Operation support device

ABSTRACT

An operation assist apparatus includes a display device installed in an operator&#39;s cab of a construction machine, at which at least operating procedures for the construction machine are displayed with text and illustrations; an image processing device that generates images; and a control device that engages the image processing device to generate an image of an operating procedure corresponding to an operation of the construction machine and engages the display device to display the image generated by the image processing device.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosures of the following priority applications are hereinincorporated by reference:

-   Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-083313 filed Mar. 25, 2002-   Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-227752 filed Aug. 5, 2002

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an operation assist apparatus thatprovides assistance for operations performed by an operator bydisplaying information such as operating procedures at a display screeninstalled in a construction machine.

BACKGROUND ART

When transporting a construction machine such as a crawler crane on atruck or the like, it may be necessary to disassemble the boom and thelike of the construction machine at the worksite before loading them onthe truck and then to reassemble them at the new worksite. Specificsetup operations must be performed after assembling the constructionmachine and before disassembling the construction machine, and theoperator performs individual setup steps by referring to the instructionmanual.

However, the setup operations, during which numerous steps such asverifying the operating states of safety devices, raising and loweringthe boom and the like must be performed in specific sequences, cannot beexecuted with a high degree of efficiency if the operator has to referto the instruction manual constantly.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an operation assist apparatus thatassists the operator during operations by displaying operatingprocedures at a display screen.

An operation assist apparatus according to the present inventionincludes a display device installed in an operator's cab of aconstruction machine, at which at least operating procedures for theconstruction machine are displayed with text and illustrations; an imageprocessing device that generates images; and a control device thatengages the image processing device to generate an image of an operatingprocedure corresponding to an operation of the construction machine andengages the display device to display the image generated by the imageprocessing device. It is preferable that the control device engages thedisplay device to display an operating procedure of a setup operationfor raising or lowering a front attachment of the construction machine.

The apparatus further includes an information detection device thatdetects information required to drive and operate the constructionmachine, and it is preferable that the control device engages the imageprocessing device to generate an image based upon the informationdetected by the information detecting device and the operating procedureand engages the display device to display the image of the operatingprocedure and the image of the information related to the constructionmachine which are generated by the image processing device. It ispreferable that the control device updates the images displayed at thedisplay device based upon the information detected by the informationdetection device. The operating procedure of the construction machinedisplayed at the display device may include an instruction on how tooperate the construction machine, verification items to be checked,inspection items to be checked and an operational warning, which matchthe information detected by the information detection device.

It is preferable that the information detection device detects a statequantity indicating a state of the construction machine, a posture ofthe construction machine and environment information indicating anenvironment surrounding the construction machine. It is also preferablethat the control device engages the display device to display asubsequent operating procedure based upon the posture of theconstruction machine detected by the information detection device.

The apparatus further includes a selection device that selects anoperating procedure to be displayed at the display device, and it ispreferable that the control device engages the display device to displaythe operating procedure selected by the selection device.

When the posture of the construction machine detected by the informationdetection device is within an allowable work range, the control devicemay engage the display device to display information related to a loadapplied to the construction machine (hereafter referred to as momentlimiter information), instead of the operating procedure, at the displayscreen.

The control device may engage the display device to display a list ofthe operating procedures in a tree format. The control device maysustain a display of the list of the operating procedures at all timesat a portion of the display device. As an alternative, the controldevice may display the list of the operating procedures at the displaydevice as required.

The control device includes a storage unit that stores in memory theoperating procedure displayed at the display device immediately beforepower to the construction machine is turned off and engages the displaydevice to display the operating procedure stored in memory at thestorage unit when the power to the construction machine is turned onagain. The apparatus may further includes an audio output device thatoutputs the operating procedures of the construction machine as audioinstructions.

It is preferable that the display device further displays informationrelated to a load applied to the construction machine (hereafterreferred to as moment limiter information); and that the control deviceengages the image processing device to generate an image providing themoment limiter information and an image of the operating procedurecorresponding to the operation of the construction machine and engagesthe display device to display the images generated by the imageprocessing device. The apparatus further includes an informationdetection device that detects a state quantity indicating a state of theconstruction machine, a posture of the construction machine andenvironment information indicating an environment surrounding theconstruction machine, and it is preferable that the control deviceengages the image processing device to generate an image based upon theinformation detected by the information detection device and engages thedisplay device to display one of the moment limiter information and theoperating procedure in correspondence to the posture of the constructionmachine.

It is preferable that the control device switches the image displayed atthe display device from the moment limiter information to the operatingprocedure when the posture of the construction machine detected by theinformation detection device is not within an allowable work range orwhen the posture of the construction machine detected by the informationdetection device which has been in the allowable work range shifts intooutside of the allowable work range. It is also preferable that theoperating procedure of the construction machine displayed at the displaydevice includes an instruction on how to operate the constructionmachine, verification items to be checked, inspection items to bechecked and an operational warning, which match the information detectedby the information detection device, the apparatus further includes aselection device that selects an image to be displayed at the displaydevice; and the control device engages the display device to display oneof the operating procedure and the moment limiter informationcorresponding to the posture of the construction machine, or one of theoperating procedure and the moment limiter information selected by theselection device.

The control device may engage the display device to display a failurediagnosis screen when an error has been detected with regard to aninspection item. The operating procedure of the construction machinedisplayed by the control device may further include a handlinginstruction; and if the handling instruction is selected by theselection device, the control device engages the display device todisplay the handling instruction corresponding to the screen currentlyon display.

It is preferable that the information detection device detects whetheror not a front attachment is mounted at the construction machine; andthe control device engages the display device to display the operatingprocedure if the information detection device detects that a frontattachment is not mounted. The control device may engage the displaydevice to display an operating procedure of a setup operation forraising or lowering a front attachment of the construction machine.

A construction machine according to the present invention includes theoperation assist apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tower crane at which an operation assistapparatus achieved in an embodiment of the present invention is mounted,undergoing in a setup operation;

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are enlargements of a coupling device of the towercrane shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the operation assist apparatus achieved inan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an internal structure of a controller inFIG. 3 and a structure assumed around the controller;

FIGS. 5 to 31 each present an example of an operating procedure screenthat may be displayed at a display unit;

FIGS. 32 and 33 each present an example of a pre-work inspection screenthat may be displayed at the display unit;

FIGS. 34 to 36 each present an example of a moment limiter screen thatmay be displayed at the display unit;

FIGS. 37 to 56 each present an example of an operating procedure screenthat may be displayed at the display unit;

FIG. 57 presents a flowchart of the crane raising operation;

FIG. 58 presents a flowchart of the crane lowering operation;

FIG. 59 shows a list of the operating procedures displayed at thedisplay unit;

FIG. 60 presents an example of a failure diagnosis screen that may bedisplayed at the display unit;

FIG. 61 shows a list of the setup operating procedures displayed in atree format;

FIGS. 62 to 65 each present an example of a list of the operatingprocedures that may be displayed at the display unit;

FIGS. 66 to 76 present other examples of operating procedure screensthat may be displayed at the display unit;

FIG. 77 is a schematic side elevation of the tower crane beforeundergoing the assembly process;

FIG. 78 is a schematic side elevation of the tower crane with a frontattachment resting on the ground;

FIG. 79 is a schematic side elevation of the tower crane with the frontattachment mounted thereupon in an idle state;

FIG. 80 shows the flow of the operating procedure screens brought up ondisplay prior to the assembly process or when the front mounted at thetower crane is set on the ground;

FIGS. 81 to 87 each present an example of an operating procedure screenthat may be displayed at the display unit;

FIG. 88 shows the flow of the operating procedure screens brought up ondisplay when the tower crane on which the front attachment is mounted isin an idle state;

FIG. 89 presents an example of an operating procedure screen that may bedisplayed at the display unit;

FIG. 90 shows the flow of the operating procedure screens brought up ondisplay when the posture of the tower crane having been within the workrange shifts into the non-work range; and

FIGS. 91 and 92 each present an example of an operating procedure screenthat may be displayed at the display device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

The following is an explanation of an operation assist apparatusachieved in an embodiment of the present invention, given in referenceto the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the structure of a tower craneequipped with the operation assist apparatus achieved in the embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the tower crane includes acrane main body 1, a tower boom 2 axially supported at the crane mainbody 1 so as to be hoisted up and down and a jib 3 axially supported atthe front end of the tower boom 2 in a rotatable manner. It is to benoted that FIG. 1 shows the tower crane in a so-called setup state, inwhich the tower crane is in the process of either being raised or beinglowered. While the tower crane is in a setup state, the jib 3 is lockedto the front surface side of the tower boom 2 by a coupling device 13and, as a result, the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 are hoisted as anintegrated unit. At the crane main body 1, a boom hoist winch 4 and ajib hoist winch 10 are provided. In addition, a hook hoist winch 15 withwhich a suspended load is lifted/lowered is provided at the crane mainbody 1.

A first pendant cable 6 is connected to the front end of the tower boom2 at one end thereof and is connected with a boom hoist cable 5 woundaround the boom hoist winch 4 at the other end thereof. As the boomhoist cable 5 is taken up or delivered with the tower boom hoist winch4, the tower boom 2 is hoisted up or down via the first pendant cable 6.

At the front end of the tower boom 2, a swing lever 7 is axiallysupported so as to be allowed to rotate. The swing lever 7 assumes atriangular shape, with one of the apexes linked with the front end ofthe jib 3 via a second pendent cable 8. Another apex of the swing lever7 is linked to a jib hoist cable 11 wound around the jib hoist winch 10via a third pendent cable 9 and a bridle device 12. As the jib hoistcable 11 is taken up or paid out with the jib hoist winch 10, the swinglever 7 is caused to rotate in the counter clockwise direction or theclockwise direction via the third pendent cable 9, thereby hoistingup/down the jib 3.

An operator's cab 1 a is provided at the crane main body 1, andoperating levers and the like operated by the operator to drive thetower boom hoist winch 4 and the jib hoist winch 10 described above areinstalled in the operator's cab 1 a. In addition, a display unit 30 (seeFIG. 3) at which various types of information such as operatingprocedures are displayed is installed in the operator's cab 1 a at aposition at which the operator can check the display with ease.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are enlargements of the coupling device 13. Thecoupling device 13 includes a jib locking claw 13 c which is rotatablysupported via a pin 13 b at a bracket 13 a fixed to the tower boom 2 anda holder 13 d which is fixed to the jib 3 so as to interlock with thejib locking claw 13 c. The jib locking claw 13 c and the bracket 13 aare linked with each other via a spring 13 e, and the jib locking claw13 c and the holder 13 d become engaged with each other due to thespring force imparted from the spring 13 e as shown in FIG. 2(a). A rope13 f used to release the linkage is connected to the jib locking claw 13c, and as the rope 13 f is pulled, the connection of the jib lockingclaw 13 c and the holder 13 d is released against the spring forceimparted by the spring 13 e, as shown in FIG. 2(b). A limit switch 13 gis mounted at the jib locking claw 13 c. When the jib locking claw 13 cand the holder 13 d become engaged with each other, the limit switch 13g is placed in contact with the holder 13 d and is turned on.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure adopted in the operation assistapparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.3, a boom angle sensor 51, a jib angle sensor 52, tension detectors 53and 54, an anemometer 55, a tachometer 56, a speaker 57, a camera 58 andthe like are electrically connected to a controller 20 which controlsthe operations of the operation assist apparatus.

The boom angle sensor 51, which is mounted near the base end of thetower boom 2, detects the angle (boom-to-ground angle) of the tower boom2 relative to the ground surface. The jib angle sensor 52, which ismounted near the rotational center of the jib 3, detects the angle ofthe jib 3 relative to the tower boom 2. The tension detector 53 detectsthe tension of the boom hoist cable 5, whereas the tension detector 54detects the tension of the jib hoist cable 11. The anemometer 55 ismounted at the front end of the tower boom 2 to measure the windvelocity and the wind direction. The tachometer 56 measures therotational speed of an engine (not shown) in the crane main body 1. Awarning sound, voice and the like are output through the speaker 57. Thecamera 58, which may be a CCD camera or a CMOS camera, captures an imagebehind the crane or around the winch drums in order to monitor the statebehind the crane main body 1 or the states of the winch drums, whichcannot be visually checked from the operator's cab 1 a.

The controller 20 calculates the ground angles of the tower boom 2 andthe jib 3 relative to the horizontal based upon signals input from theangle sensors 51 and 52. It is to be noted that the angle sensors 51 and52 are each constituted of a rotary encoder or the like, whereas thetension detectors 53 and 54 are each constituted of a load cell or thelike.

In addition, limit switches 70, 71, 72, 73 and 13 g are electricallyconnected to the controller 20. The limit switch 70 is mounted near thefront end of the jib 3 to detect a hook overwind. The limit switches 71and 72 are both mounted near the base end of the tower boom 2 to detecta 90°-overwind and an ultimate-overwind of the tower boom 2respectively. The limit switch 73 is mounted near the rotational centerof the jib 3 to detect an ultimate-overwind of the jib 3. The limitswitch 13 g detects the connection state of the coupling device 13.

The controller 20 is also electrically connected with proportionalsolenoid valves 14 a, 14 b and 14 c provided to control the flows of thepressure oil supplied from a hydraulic source (not shown) to the boomhoist winch 4, the jib hoist winch 10 and the hook hoist winch 15respectively.

Upon detecting an overwind of the tower boom 2 or the like, thecorresponding limit switches 70 to 73 provided for overwind detectionoutputs an ON signal to the controller 20. The limit switch 13 g at thecoupling device 13 outputs an ON signal to the controller 20 when thetower boom 2 and the jib 3 are clamped to each other. The proportionalsolenoid valves 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are each switched in response to anoperation of an operating lever (not shown) for the corresponding winchby the operator, and they are also switched by the controller 20 so asto stop the drive of the corresponding winches when overwind safetydevices to be detailed later are activated.

Furthermore, the display unit 30 and an input device 40 are alsoelectrically connected to the controller 20.

The input device 40, which is located near the display unit 30, includesarrow keys 41 to 44 pointing upward, downward, left, and right and usedto issue instructions for switching the display screen or selecting adisplay screen and keys (◯, X, Δ, □) 45 to 48 operated to verify orselect display contents. The operator operates the keys 41 to 48 inresponse to an image brought up on display at the display unit 30.

The controller 20 has an image processing function and generates animage to be displayed at the display unit 30 based upon signals inputfrom the angle sensors 51 and 52, the tension detectors 53 and 54, theanemometer 55, the tachometer 56, the camera 58, the input device 40 andthe limit switches 70 to 73 and 13 g. The display unit 30 is constitutedof, for instance, a liquid crystal display device and is a so-calledmulti-display unit capable of displaying an image and the like generatedat the controller 20. In response to a key operation input through theinput device 40, the controller 20 switches the contents of the displayat the display unit 30 as necessary.

In addition, the controller 20 functions as an overload preventingdevice for the crane, i.e., as a moment limiter. Based upon the resultsof the detections executed by the angle sensors 51 and 52 and thetension detectors 53 and 54, the moment limiter calculates a load factorrepresenting the ratio of the actual load of the suspended load relativeto the working radius and the load limit of the crane, controls theproportional solenoid valves 14 a, 14 b and 14 c based upon the resultsof the calculation and thereby controls the drive of the boom hoistwinch 4, the jib hoist winch 10 and the hook hoist winch 15.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the controller 20 and the structure aroundthe controller 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 20 comprises asingle chip microcomputer 20A that generates synthesized images,calculates the load factor and the like, a nonvolatile memory 21 thatallows data overwrite, a display control unit 22, an image outputinterface 23, an amplifier 24, an audio control unit 61, an audio outputinterface 62 and the like.

The nonvolatile memory 21, which may be an EEPROM (electrically erasableprogrammable read only memory), stores in memory screen numbers, etc.,assigned to the screens displayed at the display unit 30 and the like.The display control unit 22 controls the screens displayed at thedisplay unit 30 in conformance to commands issued by a CPU 27 of thesingle chip microcomputer 20A. The image output interface 23 connectsthe display control unit 22 and the display unit 30. The amplifier 24amplifies a current command value from the single chip microcomputer 20Aas necessary and outputs the amplified current command value to theproportional solenoid valves 14 a, 14 b and 14 c. The audio control unit61 converts an audio digital signal generated at the CPU 27 to an audioanalog signal, and the audio output interface 62 outputs the audioanalog signal to the speaker 57.

The single chip microcomputer 20A includes an A/D converter 25 thatconverts signals input thereto from the angle sensors 51 and 52, thetension detectors 53 and 54, the anemometer 55 and the tachometer 56 todigital signals, an input interface 26 to which digital signals from theinput device 40 and the limit switches 70 to 73 and 13 g are input andan image input interface 63 to which digital signals from the camera 58are input. In addition, the single chip microcomputer 20A includes theCPU 27 that implements the overall control for the controller 20 andexecutes arithmetic operations in conformance to specific programs, aread only memory (ROM) 28 in which preset programs are stored and arandom access memory (RAM) 29 in which numerical values and the like aretemporarily stored while the CPU 27 executes the control and thearithmetical operations.

The display unit 30 displays text, an illustration and images such as adynamic image and an image captured by the camera 58 in correspondenceto a given operating procedure. It is to be noted that the term “text”as used in this context refers to characters, i.e., a sentence ormessage displayed to explain the operating procedure or the like. Theprogram that controls the contents of the display brought up at thedisplay unit 30 is stored in advance at the ROM 28 of the controller 20.

The CPU 27 of the controller 20 detects the posture of the tower cranein real-time based upon the tower length and the jib length set prior tothe start of operation and signals indicating the tower angle and thejib angle input from the angle sensors 51 and 52. The tower craneposture thus detected in real time is displayed at the display unit 30in the form of an illustration and numerical values. The real-time towercrane posture is temporarily stored into the RAM 29. If there is anychange in either of the tower angle and the jib angle detected with theangle sensors 51 and 52 relative to the values stored in the RAM 29, theillustration in the display screen is manipulated in conformance to thechange and the most recent values are stored into the RAM 29. Inaddition, the CPU 27 processes the image signals input from the camera58 as necessary and displays the image constituted of the image signalsat the display unit 30 together with other information.

The operation assist apparatus achieved in the embodiment of the presentinvention is structured as described above. Next, the operations of theoperation assist apparatus executed in the embodiment of the presentinvention are explained in detail in reference to the drawings.

The operation assist apparatus achieved in the first embodiment of thepresent invention assists or prompts the operator to operate byproviding illustration guidance, text guidance and audio guidance forthe operating procedures of the tower crane setup operations. Inaddition, it displays quantities indicating the state of the crane suchas the tilt angles of the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 and the cabletensions, the posture of the crane, the crane environment informationand the like at the display unit 30 as images together withcorresponding operating steps of a given setup operation.

It is to be noted that the operation assist apparatus according to thepresent invention is capable of displaying a moment limiter screen whichprovides information on the load applied to the tower crane at thedisplay unit 30 as an image as well as the operating procedures of thesetup operations. Details on how an operating procedure screencorresponding to a given setup operation and the moment limiter screenare switched from each other will be provided in the explanation of asecond embodiment.

FIGS. 5 to 56 each present an example of an image that may be displayedat the display unit 30 of the operation assist apparatus achieved in theembodiment of the present invention to provide the operating procedureguidance for a setup operation, the quantities indicating that towercrane state and the like. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 56, the display screenat the display unit 30 includes a large main screen on the left side ofthe display and a smaller sub-screen on the right side of the display.The operating procedure, the operation details, the tower crane postureor the like are indicated in the form of text or illustration in themain screen, whereas state quantities indicating the current state ofthe tower crane, such as the cable tensions, and the information on theenvironment are provided in the sub-screen. In addition, when the statequantities are not indicated, the sub-screen is not used and instead,the operation details and the like are displayed over the entire displayscreen.

In the upper portion of the display screen, the types of setup guidanceand the setup operation currently on display and the current time pointare indicated, whereas keys used to switch the display screen aredisplayed in the lower portion of the display screen. The arrowspointing upward, downward, left and right, the “circle ◯” key, the“cross X” key, the “triangle Δ” key and the “square □” key displayed inthe lower portion of the screen respectively correspond to the arrowkeys 41 to 44 and the keys 45 to 48 at the input device 40. The operatorselects a given key among the keys 41 to 48 at the input device 40 toissue an instruction such as “select” or “set” corresponding to theselected key. It is to be noted that since the contents of theinstruction corresponding to a given key may change as the displayscreen is switched in the embodiment, the operator must select a keyamong the keys 41 to 48 to issue a correct instruction by checking thescreen currently on display at the display unit 30.

FIG. 5 shows a menu screen for the setup guidance. FIGS. 6 to 16 showscreens brought up on display to provide guidance for the pre-raiseinspection, which is executed while the tower boom 2 laying down on theground before raising the tower boom 2. FIGS. 17 to 27 show the screensbrought up on display to provide guidance for the raising operationexecuted to raise the tower boom 2 after finishing the pre-raiseinspection. FIGS. 28 to 31 show the screens brought up on display toprovide guidance for the raising operation executed to raise the jib 3after raising the tower boom 2.

FIGS. 32 and 33 show the screens brought up on display to provideguidance for the pre-work inspection executed when the tower boom 2 andthe jib 3 having been raised and the tower crane has assumed a workposture. FIGS. 34 to 36 show moment limiter screens brought up ondisplay at the display unit 30 while the tower crane is working.

FIGS. 37 to 41 shows the screens brought up on display to provideguidance for the raising operation executed to raise the tower boom 2before lowering the tower boom 2 when work by the tower crane has done.FIGS. 42 to 46 show screens brought up on display to provide guidancefor the lowering operation executed to lower the jib 3 and FIGS. 47 to56 show screens brought up on display to provide guidance for thelowering operation executed to lay down the tower boom 2 coupled withthe jib 3.

When executing the tower crane raising setup operations, the setupguidance menu screen shown in FIG. 5 is first brought up on display atthe display unit 30. In the setup guidance menu screen in FIG. 5, a menuof the operations included in the raising guidance for raising the towercrane up to a work state is displayed in the main screen, withinformation such as the quantities indicating the state of the cranedisplayed in the sub-screen. The operation menu for the raising guidanceincludes four items, i.e., “pre-raise inspection”, “tower raisingoperation”, “jib raising operation” and “end”.

Under normal circumstances, the setup operations for raising the towercrane are executed in the order of: the pre-raise inspection, duringwhich the crane main body 1 is inspected and the operations of thesafety devices are checked with the tower boom 2 laid down on theground, the tower raising operation during which the tower boom 2 israised while coupled with the jib 3 and the jib raising operation duringwhich the jib 3 is raised after releasing the lock between the towerboom 2 and the jib 3.

FIG. 57 presents a flowchart of the guidance screens for the tower craneraising operations which are brought up on display at the display unit30. The controller 20 determines which guidance screen is to bedisplayed based upon the key entry performed by the operator at theinput device 40.

After “pre-raise inspection” is selected in the operation menu screen(see FIG. 5) in step S 101, the operation proceeds to step S 102. Instep S 102, the screens (FIGS, 6 to 16) providing the operatingprocedure guidance for the pre-raise inspection are displayed at thedisplay unit 30. The operator performs the pre-raise inspection inconformance to the operating procedure displayed at the display unit 30.After the pre-raise inspection in step S 102 is completed, the operationproceeds to step S 103. In step S 103, the screens (FIG. 17 to FIG. 27)providing the operating procedure guidance for the tower raisingoperation are displayed at the display unit 30. The operator performsthe tower raising operation in conformance to the operating proceduredisplayed at the display unit 30. Once the tower raising operation instep S 103 is completed, the operation proceeds to step S104. In stepS104, the screens (FIG. 28 to FIG. 31) providing the operating procedureguidance for the jib raising operation are displayed at the display unit30. The operator performs the jib raising operation in conformance tothe operating procedure displayed at the display unit 30.

As the jib raising operation in step S 104 is completed and the postureof the tower crane is set within the work range, the operation proceedsto engage in the next operating procedure to start crane work. Thisaspect of operation will be described in detail later.

As described above, as “pre-raise inspection” is selected in theoperation menu screen for the raising guidance shown in FIG. 5 in step S101, the operating procedures, which include “pre-raise inspection”,“tower raising operation” and “jib raising operation” in this order, arebrought upon display at the display unit 30. Thus, the operator is ableto perform the raising operation to set the tower crane, which has beenin a lay-down state to a work posture with ease and reliability.

If the tower boom 2, laying down and coupled with the jib 3 is to beraised without performing the pre-raise inspection, “tower raisingoperation” is selected in the operation menu screen (see FIG. 5) in stepS 101 in FIG. 57. After “tower raising operation” is selected in step S101, the operation proceeds to step S 103. As a result, the displayscreens (FIGS. 17 to 27) of the operating procedure for the towerraising operation are brought up on display at the display unit 30 byskipping the display of the operating procedure for the pre-raiseinspection. When the tower raising operation executed in step S 103 iscompleted, the operation proceeds to step S 104 to bring up the displayscreens (FIGS. 28 to 31) of the operating procedure for the jib raisingoperation at the display unit 30.

If, on the other hand, the operator wishes to raise the jib 3 with thetower boom 2 already raised, he selects “jib raising operation” in theoperation menu screen (see FIG. 5) in step S 101 in FIG. 57. After “jibraising operation” is selected in step S 101, the operation proceeds tostep S 104. As a result, the display screens (FIGS. 28 to 31) of theoperating procedure for the jib raising operation are brought up ondisplay at the display unit 30 by skipping the display of operatingprocedures for the pre-raise inspection and the tower raising operation.

It is to be noted that if an error occurs while performing the pre-raiseinspection by following the guidance in the display screens in step S102, the display can be switched to a failure diagnosis screen. Forinstance, if no warning buzzer sounds when the tower angle of the towerboom 2 exceeds 90°, i.e., is in a 90°-overwind state, the display at thedisplay unit 30 may be switched to a selection screen which allows theoperator to indicate whether or not a failure diagnosis is to beexecuted, such as that shown in FIG. 60. The operator then chooseswhether or not the failure diagnosis is to be executed by operating theinput device 40, and if the operator chooses to run a failure diagnosis,the display at the display unit 30 is switched to a failure diagnosisscreen (not shown). Since the method that may be adopted when executingthe failure diagnosis on the crane is of the known art, a detailedexplanation of the method is not provided.

Namely, by selecting one of the operation menu items among “pre-raiseinspection”, “tower raising operation” and “jib raising operation” inthe operation menus screen (see FIG. 5) for the raising guidancedisplayed at the display unit 30, the operating procedures for theselected operation and any subsequent operation can be brought up ondisplay at the display unit 30. While the operation menu screen shown inFIG. 5 is on display at the display unit 30, the operator selects one ofthe operation menu items by operating the UP or DOWN arrow 41 or 43 atthe input device 40. Once an operation menu item is selected, theoperator presses the set key (◯ key) 45 to move forward to the nextscreen (procedure).

It is to be noted that if a boom is attached to the crane main body 1 asa front attachment instead of the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 (if thework machine is utilized as a regular crane instead of as a towercrane), the operation proceeds from the menu screen on display in step S101 to the pre-raise inspection screen which corresponds to theoperation performed in step S 102 in the flowchart presented in FIG. 57.When the pre-raise inspection is completed by following the guidanceprovided in the display screens, a screen of the operating procedure fora boom raising operation performed in step S 105 is brought up ondisplay. The operator then performs the boom raising operation byfollowing the guidance provided in the screen. Alternatively, theoperation may proceed from the menu screen corresponding to step S 101directly to step S 105 during which the boom raising operation screen isup on display, without bringing up the pre-raise inspection screen instep S 102. However, since the setup operations performed to set up aregular crane are not nearly as complicated as those for a tower crane,the setup operating procedures do not need to be brought up on displayat the display unit 30.

Now, an explanation is given in sequence on the raising guidancedisplayed at the display unit 30 when “pre-raise inspection” is selectedin the operation menu screen in FIG. 5. As the pre-raise inspection isselected, the display at the display unit 30 is switched to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 6.

A: Pre-Raise Inspection (Raising Guidance)

In FIG. 6, a list of the items to be inspected in the pre-raiseinspection is displayed in the main screen and state quantities and thelike similar to those in FIG. 5 are displayed in the sub-screen. Duringthe pre-raise inspection performed for the tower crane, “main bodyinspection”, “brake operation check”, “lock check” and “safety devicecheck” are performed. It is to be noted that the operator can select agiven inspection item to be inspected during the pre-raise inspection.While the display screen of the pre-raise inspection list shown in FIG.6 is up at the display unit 30, the operator selects a desiredinspection item by operating the UP or DOWN arrow key 41 or 43. Once aninspection item is selected, the operator operates the set key (◯ key)45 to bring up the next screen, i.e., to move forward to the subsequentoperating procedure. The explanation is given below on an assumptionthat “main body inspection” is selected in the display screen of thepre-raise inspection list shown in FIG. 6 and that display screens for“brake operation check”, “lock check” and “safety device check” aresequentially brought up after displaying the guidance for the main bodyinspection.

As the operator selects the main body inspection from the pre-raiseinspection items shown in FIG. 6, the display switches to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the guidance for the main bodyinspection is provided in the main screen and state quantities and thelike similar to those in FIG. 6 are displayed in the sub-screen. Themain body inspection guidance may be provided in the form of, forinstance, the following messages on display.

-   -   Verify that the orientation of the main body and the orientation        of the side frame match.    -   Verify that the crane boom stop is not attached.    -   Verify that the clutch hose has been switched to the tower side.

The operator performs a visual inspection of the individual detailswhile checking the operating procedure by referring to the main bodyinspection guidance on display at the display unit 30. When all theinspection items have been checked, the operator operates the “next” key(◯ key) 45 to proceed to the next operating procedure. In response tothe operation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 8. It is to be noted that if the operatoroperates the “return” key (X key) 46 at this point, the display isswitched to return to the immediately preceding display screen, i.e.,the display screen shown in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 8, guidance for the brake operation check is provided in themain screen and the state quantities and the like indicating the stateof the tower crane are displayed in the sub-screen. The brake operationcheck guidance may be provided in the form of, for instance, thefollowing messages.

-   -   Check the operation of the automatic brake for the jib hoist        winch.    -   Check the operation of the tower hoisting brake.    -   Verify that the swing brake is on.

The operator inspects the brakes to ensure that they operate normally byusing the operating levers and the like while checking the operatingprocedure in reference to the brake operation check guidance on displayat the display unit 30. In addition, the operator verifies that a swingbrake, which holds an upper revolving superstructure of the crane mainbody 1 is in an ON state. When the entire brake operation check iscompleted, the operator operates the “next” key (◯ key) 45. In responseto the operation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 9, guidance for the lock check is provided in the main screenand state quantities and the like similar to those in FIG. 8 aredisplayed in the sub-screen. The lock check guidance may be provided inthe form of, for instance, the following messages.

-   -   Check the operation of the drum lock claws.    -   Verify that the swing lock is engaged.    -   Verify that the tower hoist drum lock is engaged.

The operator verifies that a drum lock device for locking the winch drumand a swing lock device for disallowing rotation of the upper revolvingsuperstructure are in a locked state by checking the operating procedurein reference to the lock check guidance on display at the display unit30. Since switches for engaging the drum lock devices and the swing lockdevice are installed in the operator's cab 1 a, the states of the lockdevices may be judged by checking the operating states of thoseswitches. As an alternative, a lock-on lamp may be lit in the sub-screenor the like at the display unit 30 when the lock devices are in anengaged state. When the entire lock check is completed, the operatoroperates the “next” key (◯ key) 45. In response to the operation of the“next” key 45, the display is switched to the display screen shown inFIG. 10.

The display in FIG. 10 is not divided into the main screen and thesub-screen and is used to provide a schedule of the safety deviceoperation check over the entire display screen. The safety devices ofthe tower crane inspected in the safety device check are “hook overwindpreventing device”, tower 90°-overwind preventing device”, “towerultimate-overwind preventing device”, “jib ultimate-overwind preventingdevice” and “overload preventing device”. The operator selects a safetydevice to be inspected by operating the UP or DOWN arrow key 41 or 43 atthe input device 40. If the operator selects “hook overwind” as shown inFIG. 10 and operates the “details” key (◯ key) 45, the display isswitched to the display screen shown in FIG. 12.

As detail guidance for the safety device check, safety verificationitems to be checked when checking the operation of the hook overwindpreventing device are displayed over the entire display screen as shownin FIG. 12. It is to be noted that the hook overwind preventing deviceis activated as a weight (not shown) hanging down from the front end ofthe jib 3 is lifted by the hook and the limit switch 70 becomes turnedon as a result. As the hook overwind preventing device is switched on,the drive for winding up the hook, i.e., the take-up drive of the hookhoist winch 15, the take-down drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4 andthe take-down drive of the jib hoist winch 10, is automatically stoppedand an alarm bell sounds to alert the operator to the hook overwind.

The operator verifies that the hook overwind preventing device operatesnormally by checking the safety verification items displayed at thedisplay unit 30. Namely, he verifies that the take-up drive of the hookhoist winch 15, the take-down drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4 andthe take-down drive of the jib hoist winch 10 all stop by operatingoperating levers (not shown) while the weight is lifted up. In addition,he verifies that the alarm bell sounds when the hook overwind preventingdevice operates normally. It is to be noted that when the tower boom 2is in a lay-down state, the jib 3 is resting on the ground together withthe tower boom 2 and thus, an assistant operator or the like on theground can lift the weight by hand.

After verifying that the hook overwind preventing device operatesnormally by checking all the safety verification items shown in FIG. 12,the operator operates the “next” key (◯ key) 45. In response to theoperation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 13.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 13, safety verification items to bechecked when checking the operation of the tower 90°-overwind preventingdevice are displayed. It is to be noted that when the limit switch 71provided near the rotational center of the tower boom 2 detects that thetower angle of the tower boom 2 has reached 90°, the tower 90°-overwindpreventing device automatically stops the take-up drive of the towerboom hoist winch 4 and sounds an alarm buzzer to alert the operator tothe tower 90°-overwind.

The operator operates an operating lever (not shown) while the limitswitch 71 is held down, i.e., while the limit switch 71 is in an ONstate, to verify that the take-up drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4stops and also that the alarm buzzer sounds. It is to be noted that thelimit switch 71 is manually pressed down by the assistant operator orthe like on the ground to set it in an ON state.

After verifying that the tower 90°-overwind preventing device operatesnormally by checking all the safety verification items shown in FIG. 13,the operator operates the “next” key (◯ key) 45. In response to theoperation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 14.

In the display screen in FIG. 14, safety verification items to bechecked to check the operation of the tower ultimate-overwind preventingdevice are displayed. It is to be noted that when the limit switch 72provided near the rotational center of the tower boom 2 detects that thetower angle of the tower boom 2 has reached an ultimate limit valuelarger than 90°, the tower ultimate-overwind preventing deviceautomatically stops the take-up drive of the jib hoist winch 10, thetake-up drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4 and the take-up drive ofthe hook hoist winch 15 and also sounds an alarm bell and an alarmbuzzer to alert the operator to the tower ultimate-overwind.

The operator operates the operating levers (not shown) while the limitswitch 72 is held down, i.e., while the limit switch 72 is in an ONstate, to verify that the take-up drive of the jib hoist winch 10, thetake-up drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4 and the take-up drive ofthe hook hoist winch 15 all stop and also that the alarm bell and thealarm buzzer sound. It is to be noted that the limit switch 72 ismanually pressed down by the assistant operator or the like on theground to set it in an ON state.

After verifying that the tower ultimate-overwind preventing deviceoperates normally by checking all the safety verification items shown inFIG. 14, the operator operates the “next” key (◯ key) 45. In response tothe operation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 15.

In the display screen in FIG. 15, safety verification items to bechecked to check the operation of the jib ultimate-overwind preventingdevice are displayed. It is to be noted that when the limit switch 73provided near the rotational center of the jib 3 detects that the jibangle of the jib 3 has reached a predetermined ultimate limit value,e.g., 65°, the jib ultimate-overwind preventing device automaticallystops the take-up drive of the jib hoist winch 10, the take-down driveof the tower boom hoist winch 4 and the take-up drive of the hook hoistwinch 15 and also sounds an alarm bell and an alarm buzzer to alert theoperator to the jib ultimate-overwind.

The operator operates the operating levers (not shown) while the limitswitch 73 is held down, to verify that the take-up drive of the jibhoist winch 10, the take-down drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4 andthe take-up drive of the hook hoist winch all stop and also that thealarm bell and the alarm buzzer sound. It is to be noted that the limitswitch 73 is manually pressed down by the assistant operator or the likeon the ground to set it in an ON state.

After verifying that the jib ultimate-overwind preventing deviceoperates normally by checking all the safety verification items shown inFIG. 15, the operator operates the “next” key (◯ key) 45. In response tothe operation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 16.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 16, a message with instructions forchecking the operation of the overload preventing device is displayed inthe main screen and the load factor and indicators indicating whether ornot an alarm signal and an auto stop signal have been output aredisplayed in the sub-screen. It is to be noted that the overloadpreventing device functioning as the so-called moment limiter calculatesthe load based on the cable tensions and the like, which is applied tothe jib 3, and stops operations that will further increase the load suchas take-down drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4, take-down drive ofthe jib hoist winch 10 and take-up drive of the hook hoist winch 15 andsounds an alarm buzzer once the calculated load exceeds a limit valueset in correspondence to the working radius in advance.

In the main screen in FIG. 16, the following message, for instance, maybe displayed.

-   -   Check the overload preventing device. An alarm will sound 3        seconds after ◯ key is pressed and an auto stop signal will be        output 6 seconds after. Verify that the take-up drive and the        hoist-down drive stop in response to operating the levers.

The operator operates the ◯ key 45 at the input device 40 by followingthe instructions in the message displayed in the display screen of thedisplay unit 30 to verify that the alarm is output and also that thetake-down drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4, the take-down drive ofthe jib hoist winch 10 and the take-up drive of the hook hoist winch 15are stopped. It is to be noted that information indicating whether ornot the alarm signal and the auto stop signal have been output isdisplayed in the sub-screen.

Once the operation of the overload preventing device is checked, theinspection of all the items that need to be checked in the pre-raiseinspection ends. Subsequently, if the tower boom 2 is to be raised, the“next” key, displayed in the lower portion of the display screen at thedisplay unit 30 after the operation of the overload preventing device ischecked, is selected to move forward to the display screen shown in FIG.17, which provides the operating procedure guidance for the towerraising operation.

It is to be noted that while the display of the guidance for the safetydevice check in the pre-raise inspection proceeds from the list ofsafety devices to be checked, shown in FIG. 10, to provide more detailedguidance in correspondence to the individual safety devices, as shown inFIGS. 12 to 16, in the explanation given above, the detailed guidance inFIGS. 12 to 16 may be skipped. In such a case, the operator should checkthe operation of each safety device in reference to the list shown inFIG. 10, and once all the safety devices are checked, the operatorshould select “next” by operating the UP or DOWN arrow key 41 or 43. Theselection of “next” brings up a display of the “next” key (◯ key) in thelower portion of the display screen, as shown in FIG. 11, to allow theoperator to move forward to the tower raising operation guidance screenshown in FIG. 17 by operating the “next” key 45 at the input device 40.

B: Tower Raising Operation (Raising Guidance)

In FIG. 17, guidance with pre-tower raising operation instructions isprovided in the main screen, whereas the state quantities indicating thechanges in the cable tensions, indicating whether or not the couplingdevice has been engaged, the state quantities indicating the enginerotational speed, the wind velocity and the wind direction and the likeare displayed in the sub-screen. The guidance with the pre-tower raisingoperation instructions may be provided in the form of, for instance, thefollowing messages.

-   -   Operate the tower hoist lever for take-up and lift off the swing        lever.    -   Stop briefly to verify that the main body is in stable condition        and that the brakes are working.    -   Disengage the tower hoist drum lock.

After verifying the operating procedure in reference to the pre-towerraising operation guidance brought up on display at the display unit 30,the operator operates the “next” key (◯ key) 45 to start the towerraising operation. In response to the operation of the “next” key 45,the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 18. It is tobe noted that if the “return” key (X key) 46 is operated in the displayscreen shown in FIG. 17, the display returns to the immediatelypreceding screen, i.e., the screen shown in FIG. 16.

In FIG. 18, tower raising operation guidance is provided in the mainscreen and state quantities and the like similar to those in FIG. 17 aredisplayed in the sub-screen. The tower raising operation guidance isprovided in the form of a message “Raise the tower” and an illustrationof the tower crane shown in FIG. 18. The operator starts the towerraising operation by operating the tower hoist lever and lifts off thetower boom 2 by following the pre-raising operation guidance shown inFIG. 17. The illustration displayed in the main screen at the displayunit is synthesized at the controller 20 based upon the tower angle ofthe tower boom 2 detected by the boom angle sensor 51 and the like. Itis to be noted that the real-time tower angle detected by the boom anglesensor 51 is also indicated in the main screen.

The tower boom 2 in the display screen shown in FIG. 18, which iscoupled with the jib 3 as an integrated unit, achieves a tower angle of9° with the swing lever 7 having been lifted off. As the tower hoistlever is operated for further take-up in this state, the tower boom 2 israised gradually together with the jib 3 as an integrated unit. Whilethe tower boom 2 is being raised, the tower boom in the illustrationdisplayed at the display unit 30 also moves, as shown in FIG. 19. It isto be noted that the display screen in FIG. 19 shows the tower boom witha tower angle of 59°. As the tower hoist lever is further engaged in thetake-up operation, the tower boom 2 is raised even higher and the towerboom in the illustration is made to move further as well.

As the tower boom 2 is raised to achieve a tower angle of apredetermined value, e.g., 70°, a message “Stop the tower” is brought upon display in the main screen at the display unit 30, as shown in FIG.20. The operator, prompted by this message, stops the take-up operationof the tower hoist lever. As the operation for raising the tower boom 2stops in the display screen shown in FIG. 20, the display at the displayunit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 21.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 21, a message “Back off and removethe tower hoist pad” and an illustration of the crane main body 1 isdisplayed in the main screen. The operator (1) backs off the crane mainbody 1 and (2) removes a tower hoist pad by following the tower raisingoperation guidance provided in the display screen shown in FIG. 21. Oncethe tower hoist pad is removed, the operator operates the “next” key (◯key) 45 at the input device 40 to proceed to the next operatingprocedure. In response to the operation of the “next” key 45, thedisplay is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 22. It is to benoted that the tower hoist pad is utilized to prevent the rear side ofthe crane main body 1 from becoming lifted up due to the weight of thetower boom 2 when raising the tower boom 2.

A message “Raise the tower” and an illustration of the tower crane aredisplayed in the main screen in the display screen shown in FIG. 22 in aformat similar to that shown in FIGS. 18 to 20. The operator continueswith the operation for raising the tower boom 2 as instructed in themessage. It is to be noted that the tower angle of the tower boomdisplayed in the display screen in FIG. 22 is 70°.

During the tower raising operation, the tower boom 2 coupled with thejib 3 is raised by taking up the boom hoist cable 5. At this time, it isalso necessary to take-up the jib hoist cable 11 concurrently so as toensure that the jib hoist cable 11 does not become slack as the towerboom 2 is raised. The operator checks the extent of changes in the jibhoist cable tension and the tower hoist cable tension displayed in thesub-screen at the display unit 30 and operates the correspondingoperating levers to prevent the cables from becoming too slack or tootaut. In the embodiment, a warning is brought up on display at thedisplay unit 30 if either of the boom hoist cable tension and the jibhoist cable tension detected by the tension detectors 53 and 54 becomesabnormal. It is to be noted that the warning for an abnormal cabletension may be provided as an audio message.

FIG. 23 presents an example of a warning that may be displayed at thedisplay unit 30 when an abnormality is detected in the jib hoist cabletension. The display screen in FIG. 23 includes an illustration of thetower crane and a warning message “The jib hoist cable is slack”displayed in the main screen. In addition, the indicator of the extentof change in the jib hoist cable tension in the sub-screen shifts to theL (low) side and the graph of the jib hoist cable tension change becomeslit to indicate an abnormal cable tension. In response to the warningmessage displayed at the screen of the display unit 30, the operatoroperates the operating lever to take-up the jib hoist cable 11 so as toadjust the jib hoist cable tension. Once the jib hoist cable tensionreturns to normal, the display at the display unit 30 is switched to atower raising operation guidance screen such as that shown in FIG. 22.Accordingly, the operator resumes the tower raising operation byoperating the operating levers.

The display screen in FIG. 24 is an example of a warning output if thetower hoist drum lock has not been disengaged before the tower boom 2enters a state of a 90°-overwind, e.g., when the tower angle is 85°.Unless the tower hoist drum lock is disengaged, the lock claw may becaught at the winch drum and the take-down operation may be disabledwhen the tower boom has entered a state of 90°-overwind. While themessage “Disengage the tower hoist drum lock” is displayed in thepre-tower raising operation guidance shown in FIG. 17, a warning messagesuch as “The drum lock has not been disengaged” is brought up on displaytogether with an illustration of the tower crane if the operatorinadvertently fails to disengage the tower hoist drum lock in spite ofthe message in FIG. 17.

As the operator disengage the tower hoist drum lock in response to themessage, the display at the display unit 30 is switched to a towerraising operation guidance screen such as that shown in FIG. 22.However, the illustration and the tower angle actually displayed in themain screen at this time reflects the real-time angle of the tower boom2 detected by the boom angle sensor 51.

As the tower boom 2 coupled with the jib 3 is further raised and thetower angle reaches a predetermined value, e.g., 88°, the display at thedisplay unit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 25. Inthe display screen shown in FIG. 25, an illustration of the tower cranewith a tower angle of 88° and a message “A 90°-overwind is imminent” aredisplayed in the main screen.

As the tower boom 2 is further raised from this state, the display atthe display unit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 26immediately before the tower angle reaches 90°. In the display screen inFIG. 26, an image of the vicinity of the limit switch 71 which detects a90°-overwind of the tower boom 2, captured by the camera 58, isdisplayed in the main screen. The operator verifies that the limitswitch 71 has been pressed and the tower angle of the tower boom 2 hasreached 90° by observing the captured image displayed at the displayunit 30. Once the tower angle of the tower boom 2 reaches 90°, thedisplay at the display unit 30 is switched to the display screen shownin FIG. 27. It is to be noted that as the limit switch 71 is pressed,the tower 90°-overwind preventing device is activated and stops thetake-up drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4, thereby stopping theraising operation of the tower boom 2.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 27, a message “The tower has beenautomatically stopped due to a 90°-overwind” is displayed together withan illustration of the tower crane with a 90° tower angle in the mainscreen. As the display screen in FIG. 27 is brought up on display at thedisplay unit 30, the tower raising operation guidance ends.Subsequently, the “next” key (◯ key) displayed in the lower portion ofthe display screen in FIG. 27 is selected to move forward to the displayscreen of the jib raising operation procedure in FIG. 28 to raise thejib 3.

C: Jib Raising Operation (Raising Guidance)

In FIG. 28, guidance for the jib raising operation is provided in themain screen and the state quantities and the like are displayed in thesub-screen. The jib raising operation guidance may be provided in theform of, for instance, the following messages.

-   -   Pull the rope of the coupling device and disengage the jib        locking claw.    -   Visually verify that the jib locking claw has been disengaged.

Before starting the operation for raising the jib 3, the operatorensures that the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 are disengaged from eachother by checking the operating procedure in reference to the jibraising operation guidance displayed at the display unit 30. The towerboom 2 and the jib 3 in the coupled state are released from each otherby, for instance, the assistant operator on the ground. Upon releasingthe coupling device 13 by following the guidance, the operator operatesthe “next” key (◯ key) 45 to proceed to the next operating procedure.If, on the other hand, he selects the “return” key (X key), the displayreturns to the immediately preceding display screen, i.e., the displayscreen shown in FIG. 27. In response to the operation of the “next” key45, the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 30.However, if the “next” key 45 is operated without first disengaging thecoupling device 13, the display is switched to the display screen shownin FIG. 29.

In FIG. 29, an illustration of the tower crane with a 90° tower angleand a warning message “Pull the rope of the coupling device anddisengage the jib locking claw” are displayed in the main screen,together with the ground angle of the jib 3 relative to the groundsurface, i.e., the jib angle, in addition to the tower angle. The jibangle is −90° when the jib 3 and the tower boom 2 are in a coupledstate, as shown in FIG. 29. In addition, an indicator, which indicatesthat the coupling device 13 is engaged, is lit in the sub screen toalert the operator that the coupling device 13 is still in an engagedstate. The warning that the coupling device 13 has not been disengagedyet may be instead provided as an audio message.

As the coupling device 13 becomes released by pulling the rope 13 f atthe coupling device 13 by following the instructions in the displayscreen shown in FIG. 29, the display at the display unit 30 is switchedto the display screen shown in FIG. 30.

In FIG. 30, a message “Hoist the jib to the work position” is displayedtogether with an illustration of the tower crane in the main screen. Anindicator indicating that the coupling device has been disengaged isdisplayed in the sub-screen. It is to be noted that the illustrationdisplayed in the main screen in FIG. 30 shows the jib 3 having beentaken up through an operation of the operating lever to achieve a jibangle of 11°.

In the state shown in FIG. 30, the operating lever is engaged in afurther take-up operation to raise the jib 3. As the jib angle of thejib 3 reaches a predetermined value, e.g., 15°, the display at thedisplay unit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 31. Atthe display screen shown in FIG. 31, the following messages aredisplayed to inform the operator that the raising guidance has beencompleted.

-   -   The raising guidance has been completed.    -   Check the overwind preventing devices.

With the display screen in FIG. 31 brought up on display at the displayunit 30, the tower crane raising guidance ends. Subsequently, forshifting into the crane work the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key)displayed in the lower portion of the display screen in FIG. 31 to moveforward to the display screen providing the pre-work inspection guidancein FIG. 32.

As explained in reference to FIGS. 5 to 31 above, the operator canperform the pre-raise inspection and the raising operation with ease andreliability by following the raising guidance brought up on display atthe display unit 30. It is to be noted that the operation assistapparatus according to the present invention provides moment limiterscreens during the crane work or operation, in addition to displayingthe operating procedures of the raising setup operations.

It is to be also noted that before starting the crane work uponcompleting the tower crane setup operations, a pre-work inspection mustbe performed on the tower crane assuming the work posture. Accordingly,if the “next” key 45 is operated at the input device after the raisingguidance ends, guidance for the pre-work inspection is displayed at thedisplay unit 30.

D: Work Range

FIG. 32 shows a list of safety devices to be checked in the pre-workinspection, which is displayed over the entire display screen. As in thepre-raise inspection performed by referring to the display screens inFIGS. 10 to 16, the operations of the hook overwind preventing device,the tower 90°-overwind preventing device, the tower ultimate-overwindpreventing device, the jib ultimate-overwind preventing device and theoverload preventing device are checked in the pre-work inspection. Asthe operator selects a safety device in the list by operating the UP orDOWN arrow key 41 or 43 at the input device 40 while the display screenin FIG. 30 is up on display at the display unit 30 and then operates the“details” key (◯ key) 45, the display is switched to a details screen,such as one of those shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, to be used to inspect thecorresponding safety device.

It is to be noted that the pre-work inspection may be performed bychecking the detailed safety verification items displayed incorrespondence to each safety device at the display screen of thedisplay unit 30 as in the case of the pre-raise inspection, or theinspection may be performed by checking the safety verification itemsfor each safety device in reference to the list in the display screenshown in FIG. 32. We assume that the operator checks the operations ofthe individual safety devices by referring to the list of the pre-workinspection items in FIG. 32 and, accordingly, an explanation of imagesproviding verification details is omitted.

Once the operations of the safety devices are all checked, the operatoroperates the UP or DOWN arrow key 41 or 43 at the input device 40 toselect “to next”. As “to next” is selected, the display at the displayunit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 33.Subsequently, the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key) while thedisplay screen in FIG. 33 is up on display to start a crane work. Inresponse to the operation of the “next” key 45, the display at thedisplay unit 30 is switched to a moment limiter screen, such as thatshown in FIG. 34.

As shown in FIG. 34, information related to the load applied to thetower crane is displayed in the moment limiter screen. The operatordrives the tower boom 2, the jib 3 and the like as appropriate so as toensure that an excessive load is not applied to the tower crane bychecking the information displayed in the moment limiter screen duringthe crane work.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 34, an illustration of the towercrane, which is synthesized at the controller 20, is displayed in themain screen, whereas the image of a winch drum captured by the camera 58is displayed together with the quantities indicating the state of thetower crane and the environment information in the sub-screen. In theillustration of the tower crane displayed in the main screen, the towerlength, the jib length and the tower angle and the jib anglerespectively detected at the boom angle sensor 51 and the jib anglesensor 52 are indicated. In addition, the working radius, which iscalculated based upon the tower length, the jib length, the tower angleand the jib angle, is indicated in the main screen. The load limitcorresponding to the current working radius and the actual load of thesuspended load, which are calculated based upon the cable tensions ofthe boom hoist cable 5 and the jib hoist cable 11 detected by thetension detectors 53 and 54, are also indicated in the main screen. Theload factor calculated based upon the load limit and the actual load ofthe suspended load is provided in the sub-screen. A rated load table tobe referenced to determine the load limit corresponding to the currentworking radius is stored in advance at the ROM 28 of the controller 20.It is to be noted that the illustration of the tower crane displayed inthe moment limiter screen such as that shown in FIG. 34 does not need tobe animated to reflect the movement of the tower crane.

It is to be also noted that the extents of the changes in the tensionsof the boom hoist cable 5 and the jib hoist cable 11 are not displayedin the sub-screen at the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 34.However, the operator is enabled to monitor for any irregular windingand the like of the cables by checking the states of the winches 4, 10and 15 in the image captured by the camera 58.

In addition, by operating a display switch key (left or right arrow key)displayed in the lower portion of the display screen shown in FIG. 34,the image captured by the camera 58 can be displayed in the main screenat the display unit 30. For instance, if the operator operates the rightarrow key 42 at the input device 40 while the display screen in FIG. 34is up on display, a captured image of the rear side of the crane mainbody 1 is displayed in the main screen, as shown in FIG. 35. At thistime, information such as the working radius, the tower angle, the jibangle and the actual load of the suspended load is displayed togetherwith the load factor, the engine rotational speed, the wind velocity andthe wind direction in the sub-screen.

If the left arrow key 44 at the input device 40 is operated in themoment limiter screen shown in FIG. 35, the display returns to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 34, whereas if the operator operates theright arrow key 42, an image of the winch 4, 10 or 15 is brought up ondisplay in the main screen, as shown in FIG. 36. In FIG. 36, the imagedisplayed in the main screen may be an image showing any of the winches4, 10 and 15 or the main screen may be split into three areas to displayimages of the winches 4, 10 and 15 all at once. In the sub-screen inFIG. 36, too, the quantities indicating the state of the tower crane andthe like are displayed as in the display screen shown in FIG. 35. As theoperator operates the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key 42 or 44 at the inputdevice 40 in the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 36, the display isswitched to the display screen in FIG. 34 or FIG. 35.

The operator is enabled to conduct the crane work without moving beyondthe work range or causing an overload by monitoring the work posture ofthe tower crane and the states of the winch drums in the moment limiterscreens in FIGS. 34 to 36 brought up on display at the display unit 30.If the tower boom 2 is to be lowered together with the jib 3 after thecrane work, guidance for the lowering operation is brought up on displayat the display unit 30 and, accordingly, the operator performs loweringsetup operations by following the lowering guidance.

A guidance key (□ key) is displayed in the lower portion of the displayscreens in FIGS. 34 to 36. As the operator operates the guidance key (□key) 48 at the input device 40, lowering guidance for lowering the towercrane is brought up on display at the display unit 30. Normally, the jib3 is first taken down to be coupled with the tower boom 2 after raisingthe tower boom 2 in order to lower the tower crane. Then, the tower boom2 now coupled with the jib 3 lowered onto the ground. However, theinstructions in the lowering guidance displayed at the display unit 30may need to be changed depending upon the tower crane posture and thelike. Accordingly, the controller 20 determines the lowering guidancescreen to be brought up on display at the display unit 30 based upon thestate, the posture and the like of the tower crane when the guidance key48 is operated.

FIG. 58 presents a flowchart showing the flow of the lowering operationguidance screens displayed at the display unit 30 in correspondence tothe state of the tower crane. The controller 20 judges which specificguidance screen should be displayed. The flow in the flowchart presentedin FIG. 58 starts as the operator selects the guidance key 48 at theinput device 40 while one of the moment limiter screens in FIGS. 34 to36 is on display.

First, in step S 201, a decision is made as to whether or not theconstruction machine is a tower crane having the tower boom 2 and thejib 3 attached as a front attachment to the crane main body 1. If anaffirmative decision is made in step S 201 that the construction machineis a tower crane, the operation proceeds to step S 202. In step S 202, adecision is made as to whether or not the current working radius of thetower crane, which is calculated based upon the data provided by theboom angle sensor 51, the jib angle sensor 52 and the like, is withinthe work range. This decision is made by comparing the current workingradius with the working radius limit calculated at the moment limiter,and it is decided that the current working radius is within the workrange if the deviation of the current working radius is within apredetermined value set relative to the working radius limit. If anaffirmative decision is made in step S 202, the operation proceeds tostep S 203.

In step S 203, a decision is made as to whether or not the tower angleis other than 90°. If an affirmative decision is made in step S 203, theoperation proceeds to step S 205 to display the pre-lowering setupoperation screens, i.e., the tower raising operation screens in FIGS. 37to 41 at the display unit 30. When the tower raising operation performedby following the instructions provided in the display screens iscompleted, the operation proceeds to step S 206. In step S 206, a screen(see FIG. 42) showing the first step in the jib lowering operatingprocedure is displayed at the display unit 30.

It is to be noted that if a negative decision is made in step S 203,i.e., if the tower angle is 90°, the operation proceeds to step S 206 todisplay the screen (see FIG. 42) of the jib lowering operating procedureat the display unit 30.

As the jib 3 is taken down to achieve a predetermined jib angle in stepS 206, the operation proceeds to step S 207 to make a decision as towhether or not an “assemble/disassemble key”, i.e., the ◯ key 45, hasbeen operated. If an affirmative decision is made in step S 207, theoperation proceeds to step S 208 to display the screens (FIGS. 43 to 46)of the subsequent steps in the jib lowering operating procedure at thedisplay unit 30. When the jib lower in a operation performed byfollowing the instructions provided in the display screens is completed,the operation proceeds to step S 209. In step S 209, screens (FIGS. 47to 56) of the tower lowering operating procedure are displayed at thedisplay unit 30. Once the tower lowering operation performed byfollowing the instructions provided in the display screens is completed,the sequence of the lowering setup operation ends.

If, on the other hand, a negative decision is made in step S 202, i.e.,if the tower crane is not within the work range, the operation proceedsto step S 204. In step S 204, a decision is made as to whether or notthe jib 3 is disengaged from the tower boom 2, i.e., whether or not thetower boom 2 and the jib 3 are in an uncoupled state. If an affirmativedecision is made in step S 204 that the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 arein an uncoupled state, the operation proceeds to step S 208 to lower thejib 3. If a negative decision is made in step S 204 with the jib 3having already been taken down and coupled with the tower boom 2 via thecoupling device 13, the operation proceeds to step S 209 to display thescreens of the tower lowering operation procedure.

It is to be noted that if a negative decision is made in step S 207 thatthe assemble/disassemble key 45 has not been operated, it is judged thatthe crane work is to be continued and the moment limiter screen in FIG.34 is brought up on display.

In addition, if a negative decision is made in step S 201, i.e., if theconstruction machine is a regular crane instead of a tower crane, theoperation proceeds to step S 210 to display screens of the boom loweringoperation procedure at the display unit 30. As the boom loweringoperation performed by following the instructions provided in thedisplay screens is completed, the sequence of lowering setup operationends. It is to be noted that since the setup operations that must beperformed to lower a regular crane are not as complicated as the setupoperations required for a tower crane, displaying the operationprocedures at the display unit 30 may not be necessary in the case of aregular crane.

The following is an explanation of the lowering guidance displayed atthe display unit 30 to assist the lowering operations to be performedwhen the tower crane is within the work range and the tower angle of thetower boom 2 is not 90°. As the guidance key (□ key 48) is selected inone of the moment limiter screens shown in FIGS. 34 to 36, the displayscreen in FIG. 37 is brought up on display at the display unit 30.

F: Tower Raising Operation (Lowering Guidance)

FIG. 37 shows guidance for the tower raising operation brought up ondisplay together with an illustration of the tower crane in the mainscreen. Information similar to that displayed in the moment limiterscreen, such as the working radius, the tower angle, the jib angle andthe actual load of the suspended load as well as the load factor, theengine rotational speed, the wind velocity and the wind direction, isdisplayed in the sub-screen. The tower raising guidance may be providedin the form of, for instance, a message “Set the jib angle to 40°-50°”.At this time, the jib angle is displayed in the tower craneillustration. After the operator takes up or takes down the jib 3 so asto achieve a jib angle of 40° to 50° and operates the “next” key (◯ key45), the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 38.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 38, a message “Raise the tower to90°” is displayed together with an illustration of the tower craneindicating the jib angle and the tower angle in the main screen. As thetower boom 2 is hoisted up to achieve a predetermined tower angle of,for instance, 88°, the display at the display unit 30 is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 39.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 39, a message “A 90°-overwind isimminent” is displayed together with an illustration of the tower craneindicating the tower angle of 88° in the main screen. As the tower boom2 is further raised in this state, the display at the display unit 30 isswitched to an image captured by the camera shown in FIG. 40 immediatelybefore the tower angle reaches 90°.

The operator observing the captured image of the area around the limitswitch for 90°-overwind detection displayed in the main screen in FIG.40 verifies that the limit switch has been pressed and the tower angleof the tower boom 2 has reached 90°. Once the tower angle reaches 90°,the tower 90°-overwind preventing device is activated to stop thetake-up drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4, and the display at thedisplay unit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 41.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 41, a message “Tower has beenautomatically stopped due to a 90°-overwind” is displayed together withan illustration of the tower crane indicating the tower angle of 90° inthe main screen. With this, the tower raising operation guidance ends.Subsequently, if the jib 3 is to be lowered, the operator selects the“next” key (◯ key 45) displayed in the display screen shown in FIG. 41to move forward to the display screen of the jib lowering operationprocedure shown in FIG. 42.

G: Jib Lowering Operation (Lowering Guidance)

In the jib lowering operation guidance screen shown in FIG. 42, amessage “Take down the jib until the jib angle is 15°” is displayedtogether with an illustration of the tower crane in the main screen.Quantities indicating the tower crane state and the like similar tothose in FIG. 41 are displayed in the sub-screen. It is to be noted thatthe illustration of the tower crane and the jib angle displayed in themain screen change by reflecting the progress of the take-down operationof the jib 3.

As the jib 3 is taken down to achieve a jib angle of 15°, the display atthe display unit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 43.In FIG. 43, a message “Press the assemble/disassemble key” is displayedover the entire display screen as a pop-up. As the operator presses theassemble/disassemble key (◯ key) 45 at the input device 40 with thisscreen up on display, the display at the display unit 30 is switched tothe display screen shown in FIG. 44.

In FIG. 44, a message “Take-down the jib to the coupling device whileensuring that the hook does not touch the ground” is displayed togetherwith an illustration of the tower crane in the main screen. The jib 3 islowered until it becomes coupled with the tower boom 2 while theoperator visually ensures that the hook (not shown) suspended at thefront end of the jib 3 does not touch the ground. It is to be noted thatthe illustration in the main screen shown in FIG. 44 indicates that thejib 3 has been lowered to an angle of −36°. As the jib 3 is furtherlowered to achieve a jib angle of −90°, the display at the display unit30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 45.

In FIG. 45, a message “Visually verify that the jib locking claw of thecoupling device has been engaged” is displayed together with anillustration of the tower crane indicating the jib angle of −90° in themain screen. At this time, the extents of changes in the tensions of thejib hoist cable 11 and the boom hoist cable 5, the state of the couplingdevice 13, the engine rotational speed, the wind velocity, the winddirection and the like, instead of the working radius, the tower angle,the jib angle and the load, are displayed in the sub-screen. Before thejib locking claw 13 c at the coupling device 13 is engaged, “couplingdevice disengaged” is displayed in the sub-screen. After visuallyverifying that the jib locking claw 13 c has been engaged, the operatorselects the “next” key (◯ key 45).

In response to the operation of the “next” key 45, the display isswitched to the display screen shown in FIG. 46. If the jib locking claw13 c has been engaged, “coupling device engaged” is displayed in thesub-screen shown in FIG. 46. With this, the jib lowering operationguidance ends. Subsequently, if the tower boom 2 is to be lowered, theoperator selects the “next” key (◯ key 45) displayed in the displayscreen shown in FIG. 46 to move forward to bring up the display screenof the tower lowering operation procedure shown in FIG. 47.

H: Tower Lowering Operation (Lowering Guidance)

In the tower lowering operation guidance screen shown in FIG. 47, amessage “Performa main hoist take-down operation and lower the hook tothe ground” is displayed together with an illustration in the mainscreen. State quantities and the like similar to those in FIG. 46 aredisplayed in the sub-screen. The operator performs a take-down operationof the hook hoist winch 15 by following the instructions in the guidanceon display and then selects the “next” key (◯ key 45) after the hook(not shown) is set on the ground. In response to the operation of the“next” key 45, the display at the display unit 30 is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 48.

In FIG. 48, the following message is displayed together with anillustration in the main screen; “The tower lowering operation startsnow. Ensure that the jib pendant cable does not become too taut or tooslack during the operation”. The operator having checked the messageselects the “next” key (◯ key 45) in the lower portion of the displayscreen to start the tower lowering operation. In response to theoperation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 49.

In FIG. 49, a message “Lower the tower” is displayed together with anillustration of the tower crane indicating the tower angle in the mainscreen. The operator performs a take-down operation with the tower hoistoperating lever to lower the tower boom 2 while checking for any changesin the cable tensions displayed in the sub-screen. At this time, theoperator operates the jib hoist operating lever as appropriate so as tomaintain the tension of the lib pendant cable 8 at the normal level. Itis to be noted that the illustration in the main screen changes toreflect the progress in the lowering operation of the tower boom 2. Asthe tower boom 2 is lowered to achieve a predetermined tower angle of,for instance, 70°, the display is switched to the display screen shownin FIG. 50.

In FIG. 50, a message “Stop the tower lowering operation” is displayedtogether with an illustration of the tower crane indicating the towerangle of 70° in the main screen. As the operator stops the loweringoperation of the tower boom 2 in response to the message and selects the“next” key (◯ key 45), the display is switched to the display screenshown in FIG. 51.

In FIG. 51, a message “Set the tower hoist pad in place and moveforward” is displayed together with an illustration of the crane mainbody 1 in the main screen. In response to the message, the operator (1)places the tower hoist pad in front of the crane main body 1 and (2)drives the crane main body 1 forward so as to set the crane main body 1on the tower hoist pad. As the crane main body 1 is positioned on thetower lower pad and the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key 45), thedisplay is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 52.

In FIG. 52, the following message is displayed together with anillustration of the tower crane in the main screen; “Lower the tower andstop when the front end of the swing lever is 200 to 300 mm above theground surface”. It is to be noted that the illustration shows the towerboom 2 having been lowered to achieve a tower angle of 10°. The operatorstops lowering the tower boom 2 when the front end of the swing lever 7is lowered to a point 200 to 300 mm above the ground surface byfollowing the instructions in the message, and then selects the “next”key (◯ key 45). In response to the operation of the “next” key 45, thedisplay is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 53. It is to benoted that the assistant operator or the like on the ground ascertainsthe distance between the front end of the swing lever 7 and the groundsurface.

In FIG. 53, a message “Place the floor plate under the front end of theswing lever and lower the front end onto the floor plate” is displayedtogether with a tower crane illustration in the main screen. Byfollowing the instructions in the message, the operator (1) positionsthe floor plate under the front end of the swing lever 7 and (2) lowersthe tower boom 2 so as to set the front end of the swing lever 7 ontothe floor plate. As the front end of the swing lever 7 is lowered ontothe floor plate and the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key 45), thedisplay is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 54.

In FIG. 54, a message “Operate the jib hoist lever to the take-down sideand lower the jib bridle onto the bridle rest” is displayed togetherwith an illustration in the main screen. The operator drives the jibhoist winch 10 to take it down by operating the jib hoist operatinglever and lowers the bridle device 12 onto a bridle rest (not shown).Then, the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key 45). In response to theoperation of the “next” key 45, the display is switched to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 55.

In FIG. 55, a message “Set the drum lock for each drum to “engage” isdisplayed in the main screen. As the drum lock device of each winch drumis set in a locked state and the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key45), the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 56.

In FIG. 56, the following message is displayed in the main screen; “Thelowering guidance has been completed. Thank you. Turn off the power andconnect the shorting plug before disassembly. Press the guidance key toperform the raising operations”. With the display screen shown in FIG.56 brought upon display at the display unit 30, the sequence of thelowering operation guidance ends. If the operator operates the guidancekey (□ key) 48 at the input device 40 while the screen in FIG. 56 is ondisplay, the raising guidance menu screen in FIG. 5 is brought up ondisplay.

It is to be noted that each time the tension level of either cablebecomes abnormal while performing the lowering operations by followingthe instructions provided in the lowering operation guidance, a warningscreen such as that shown in FIG. 23 is brought up on display to warnthe operator. In addition, the setup operations such as the raisingoperations and the lowering operations explained above are normallyperformed while the engine is rotating at low speed and, accordingly, awarning screen may be brought up on display if the engine rotationalspeed exceeds a predetermined rotational speed. Furthermore, if a cabletension becomes abnormal, or if the engine rotational speed becomesexcessively high, the operator may be warned with an audio message aswell as a text message. The alarm output when an overwind preventingdevice is activated may be provided in the form of an audio message inaddition to the buzzer and the bell.

The operator selects a discontinue key (Δ key) displayed in the lowerportion of the display screen to halt an operation currently in progressin conformance to the operating procedure guidance displayed in any ofFIGS. 5 to 56, as detailed above. If the Δ key 47 at the input device 40is operated in a given display screen, the display is switched to themoment limiter screen shown in FIG. 34. The number assigned to thedisplay screen in which the discontinue key (Δ key) 47 is operated isstored into the EEPROM 21 of the controller 20, and the guidance screenon display immediately before switching to the moment limiter screen isbrought up on display again if the operator selects the guidance key (□key) 48 in the moment limiter screen in FIG. 34. In addition, if a setupoperation in progress with the corresponding setup guidance on displayin the display screen is halted and the power is turned off or if thepower is cut off due to a temporary disconnection or the like, thenumber assigned to the screen on display when the power went off isstored into the EEPROM 21 of the controller 20. As a result, when thesetup operation is resumed by turning on the power again, the setupguidance having been on display before the power went off is brought upon display to allow the setup operation to be resumed from that pointon.

FIG. 59 presents a list of the contents of display screens correspondingto various operating states, which are displayed at the display unit 30of the operation assist apparatus in the embodiment. In FIG. 59, crucialdisplay contents that must be displayed at the display unit 30 aremarked with ⊚, whereas display contents simply recommended to bedisplayed at the display unit 30 are marked with ◯.

As shown in FIG. 59, the screens brought up on display at the displayunit 30 are grouped into the raising guidance screens, the work rangescreens and the lowering guidance screens. The raising guidance screensare further divided into A) pre-raise guidance screens, B) tower raisingguidance screens and C) jib raising guidance screens. The loweringguidance screens, on the other hand, are divided into F) tower raisingguidance screens, G) jib lowering guidance screens and H) tower loweringguidance screens. The following is an explanation of the displaycontents displayed at the display unit 30 in the individual screens.

A: Pre-Raise Guidance

During the pre-raise inspection (A1), details of the inspection such asthe main body inspection are displayed in the main screen as shown inFIGS. 6 to 9 explained earlier. The information indicating whether ornot the jib hoist cable tension is too low or too high is displayedtogether with the information indicating the engaged/released state ofthe coupling device in the sub-screen. In addition, instructionsprompting the operator to verify that the clutch hose is connected tothe tower side, that the brake mode selection key is set at the lockposition and that the automatic brake of the auxiliary hoist brake modeselector switch is on may be displayed in the sub-screen. By doing this,the brake mode selector key is sustained at a locked position and theauxiliary hoist brake mode selector switch is sustained in an ON stateso that the jib is not allowed to fall down even if the clutch hose isconnected to the crane side.

When inspecting the operations of the individual overwind preventingdevices (A2), the instructions for inspecting the hook overwindpreventing device, the overload preventing device and the like aredisplayed in the main screen, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 16. In thosescreens, a captured image of an area around a limit switch for overwinddetection and the like may be displayed in the sub-screen to show theoperating state of the corresponding overwind preventing device oroverload preventing device.

B: Tower Raising Guidance

During the lift-off/raising operation (B1), the real-time posture andthe real-time operating direction of the tower crane are displayed inthe main screen, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, together with aninstruction to set the engine rotational speed to low. In addition, therotating state of a winch drum may also be displayed. At this time, theinformation indicating whether or not the tower hoist cable tension istoo low or in an abnormal state may also be displayed in the sub-screentogether with information indicating whether or not the jib hoist cabletension is too low or too high, whether the coupling device is in anengaged state or a released state and the engine rotational speed. It isto be noted that a warning may be displayed if the engine rotationalspeed exceeds a predetermined value. Instead of displaying theinstruction to set the engine rotational speed to low, a warning may bebrought up on display if the engine rotational speed is high.

When the tower angle reaches 70° (B2), an instruction to remove thetower hoist pad is displayed in the main screen as explained inreference to FIG. 21. Since the crane main body 1 may tip over if thewind velocity increases while the front end of the tower boom 2 is setat a significant height, the wind velocity and the wind direction aredisplayed in the sub-screen. A warning may be displayed in the displayscreen if the wind velocity exceeds a predetermined value.

When the tower boom enters a 90°-overwind state (B3), an image of thearea around the limit switch for 90°-overwind detection captured by thecamera is displayed in the main screen to allow the operator to checkthe operating state of the limit switch, as shown in FIG. 26.

C: Jib Raising Guidance

When releasing the coupling device (C1), the instructions for releasingthe coupling device 13 are displayed in the main screen, as shown inFIGS. 28 and 29. At this time, information indicating whether thecoupling device 13 is in an engaged state or a released state isdisplayed in the sub-screen.

During the jib raising operation (C2), the real-time posture and thereal-time operating direction of the tower crane are displayed in themain screen, as shown in FIG. 30, together with an instruction to setthe engine rotational speed to low. In addition, the rotating state of awinch drum may also be displayed. Information indicating whether or notthe jib hoist cable tension is too low or too high, whether or not theboom hoist cable tension is too low or in an abnormal state, the enginerotational speed, the wind velocity and the wind direction is displayedin the sub-screen.

D: Work Range

When inspecting the operations of the individual overwind preventingdevices (D1), the instructions for inspecting the hook overwindpreventing device, the overload preventing device and the like aredisplayed in the main screen, as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33. In thosescreens, the operating state of an overwind preventing device or theoverload preventing device may be displayed in the sub-screen.

During the crane work (D2), a moment limiter screen or the rotatingstate of a winch drum is displayed in the main screen, as shown in FIGS.34 to 36. An image of the rear side of the crane main body or an imageof a winch drum, captured by the camera, may also be displayed. In thesub-screen, the load factor calculated by the moment limiter, the enginerotational speed, the wind velocity and the wind direction aredisplayed.

F: Tower Raising Guidance

During the tower raising operation (F1), the real-time posture and thereal-time operating direction of the tower crane are displayed in themain screen, as shown in FIGS. 37 to 39, together with an instruction toset the engine rotational speed to low. In addition, the rotating stateof a winch drum may also be displayed. Information indicating whether ornot the tower hoist cable tension is too low or in an abnormal state,the wind velocity and the wind direction is displayed in the sub-screen.The engine rotational speed may also be indicated.

When the tower boom enters a 90°-overwind state (F2), an image of thearea around the limit switch for 90°-overwind detection captured by thecamera is displayed in the main screen, as shown in FIG. 40.

G: Jib Lowering Guidance

During the jib lowering operation (G1), the real-time posture and thereal-time operating direction of the tower crane are displayed in themain screen, as shown in FIG. 42, together with an instruction to setthe engine rotational speed to low. The rotating state of a winch drummay also be displayed. Information indicating whether or not the jibhoist cable tension is too low or too high, the engine rotational speed,the wind velocity and the wind direction is displayed in the sub-screen.

When adjusting the hook height (G2), while instructions with regard tothe hook height is displayed in the main screen to prompt the operatorto ensure that the hook is not set on the ground, as shown in FIG. 44explained earlier.

When engaging the coupling device (G3), the instructions are displayedin the main screen to prompt the operator to verify that the couplingdevice 13 has been engaged, as shown in FIGS. 45 and 46. Informationindicating whether the coupling device 13 is in an engaged state or areleased state is displayed in the sub-screen.

H: Tower Lowering Guidance

During the tower lowering operation (H1), the real-time posture and thereal-time operating direction of the tower crane are displayed in themain screen, as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, together with an instructionto set the engine rotational speed to low. In addition, the rotatingstate of a winch drum may also be displayed. Information indicatingwhether or not the jib hoist cable tension is too low or too high,whether or not the boom hoist cable tension is too low or in an abnormalstate, the engine rotational speed, the wind velocity and the winddirection is displayed in the sub-screen.

When the tower angle reaches 70° (H2), an instruction to place the towerhoist pad is displayed in the main screen as explained earlier inreference to FIG. 51.

When setting the hook on the ground (H 3), an instruction to set thehook on the ground is displayed in the main screen, as shown in FIG. 47.

The display screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 56 simply represent an exampleof display screens that may be brought up on display at the display unit30 of the operation assist apparatus in the embodiment, and the actualdisplay screens may adopt a different format as long as at least thedisplay contents in the table presented in FIG. 59 are displayed incorrespondence to the individual operating states. In addition, when theoperating procedure guidance is provided as a message displayed in themain screen, the same guidance may also be output as an audio message.

The tower angle of the tower boom 2 does not need to be exactly 70° whenthe instruction to set or remove the tower hoist pad is displayed, aslong as the tower angle is close to 70°. In addition, the instruction toset or remove the tower hoist pad may be modified in correspondence tothe condition of the front attachment attached to the crane main body 1.For instance, the guidance regarding the tower hoist pad may be omittedwhen a tower boom 2 with a small tower boom length is raised from theground or is lowered onto the ground, so that there is no risk of therear side of the crane main body 1 becoming lifted up by the weight ofthe tower boom 2.

Furthermore, an at-a-glance list of the operating procedures or theoperational progress status may be displayed at the display screen ofthe display unit 30 so as to allow the operator to check the operatingprocedure of a given setup operation or the operational progress statusduring the setup operation. FIG. 61 shows a list of the operatingprocedures of the setup operations presented in a tree format. FIGS. 62to 65 present examples of the operating procedures and the operationalprogress statuses that may be displayed at the display unit 30.

The setup operating procedures displayed in the screen shown in FIG. 62include the raising guidance and the lowering guidance, with theindicator in the display screen indicating that the pre-raise inspectionin the raising guidance is currently selected. As the operator selectsthe “set” key (◯ key) 45 at the input device 40 with the screen in FIG.62 on display at the display unit 30, the display is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 63 to show the items to be inspected in thepre-raise inspection. For any of the other operations, e.g., the towerraising operation, the operator selects the “set” key (◯ key) in thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 62 to bring up a list of the operationprocedural steps on display. The display of such a list assists theoperator in confirming the sequence and the flow of the operatingprocedural steps of a given setup operation.

Alternatively, the list of the operation procedural steps of theselected setup operation may be displayed in the sub-screen at thedisplay unit 30 at all times, as shown in FIG. 64. In FIG. 64, thecurrent setup step, e.g., the brake inspection, is lit to help theoperator ascertain the current status of progress of the overall setupoperation. As a further alternative, the list of the operationprocedural steps of the setup operation displayed in the sub-screen inFIG. 64 may be instead displayed in the tree format shown in FIG. 65.Such a display will allow the operator to ascertain with ease thecurrent stage of progress in the overall setup operation.

Variation of the First Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, a list of safety devices andinspection items is displayed at the display unit 30, as shown in FIGS.32 and 33 as the pre-work inspection guidance, and the specificinspection details corresponding to a given safety device are brought upon display, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, when the operator selects the“details” key. Now, another example of pre-work inspection guidancedisplay is explained in reference to drawings.

As the operator selects the “next” key (◯ key) 45 while the displayscreen shown in FIG. 31 is on display at the display unit 30 after theraising guidance is completed, the display is switched to the displayscreen of pre-work inspection guidance shown in FIG. 66. FIG. 66 showsan inspection menu listing the safety devices, i.e., the overloadpreventing device, the hook overwind preventing device, the jibultimate-overwind preventing device, the tower 90°-overwind preventingdevice and the tower ultimate-overwind preventing device, which isdisplayed over the entire display screen. If the operator selects the“list” key (□ key 48) displayed in the lower portion of the displayscreen, the display is switched to a list of inspection items to bechecked in correspondence to the individual safety devices, such as thatshown in FIG. 32.

As the operator selects a safety device with the “select” key (UP orDOWN arrow key 41 or 43) and operates the “set” key (◯ key 45) in thesafety device inspection menu screen shown in FIG. 66, detailedinspection operating procedure instructions for the selected safetydevice are brought up on display at the display unit 30. If “overloadprevention” is selected and the ◯ key 45 is operated in FIG. 66, thedisplay is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 67. If, on theother hand, the “next” key (X key) 46 is operated, the display isswitched to a moment limiter screen, such as that shown in FIG. 34,without displaying any detailed inspection operating procedureinstructions.

In FIG. 67, the following messages are on display as the inspectionoperating procedure instructions for the overload preventing device.

-   -   Check the alarm function and the auto stop function.    -   The alarm sounds 3 second after pressing ◯ key and an auto stop        signal is output 6 seconds after. Verify that the take-up drive        and the hoist-down drive stop in response to operating the        levers.

In addition, a graph of the load factor is displayed in the displayscreen. In this example, the graph indicates that the load factor is 3%.As the operator presses the ◯ key 45 at the input device 40, theinspection of the overload preventing device starts and the display atthe display unit 30 is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 68.It is to be noted that the display returns to the display screen shownin FIG. 66 in response to an operation of the “return” key (X key) 46.

Messages identical to those in FIG. 67 are displayed in the displayscreen shown in FIG. 68. The graph indicates that the load factor is50%, and an inspection-in-progress sign indicating that neither thealarm nor the auto stop signal has been output is displayed.

3 seconds after the inspection of the overload preventing device starts,the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 69. Thedisplay screen in FIG. 69 indicates that the alarm has been output andthat the load factor is 95%. The operator verifies that the alarm isbeing output for the overload preventing device as indicated in thedisplay.

6 seconds after the inspection start, the display is switched to thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 70. The screen display in FIG. 70 indicatesthat both the alarm and the auto stop signal have been output and thatthe load factor is 100%. The operator operates the tower hoist operatinglever, the jib hoist operating lever and the hook take-up operatinglever and verifies that the take-up drive of the hook hoist winch 15,the take-down drive of the tower boom hoist winch 4 and the take-downdrive of the jib hoist winch 10 are all stopped.

As the operator operates the ◯ key 45 after verifying that the overloadpreventing device is operating correctly, the display shifts to adisplay screen providing the next inspection guidance, as shown in FIG.71. It is to be noted that the display returns to that shown in FIG. 67in response to an operation of the “discontinue” key (X key) 46 in thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 68 or 69, whereas the display returns tothat shown in FIG. 66 in response to an operation of the “discontinue”key (X key) 46 in the screen display shown in FIG. 70.

In FIG. 71, the following message is displayed to provide operatingprocedure instructions for inspecting the hook overwind preventingdevice in the display screen; “Set the tower angle to 80° and the jibangle to 50°, and take-up the hook until it comes in contact with theweight”. In addition, a simple illustration of the tower crane includingthe tower angle (A1) and the jib angle (A2) that instructs to take upthe hook and a sign indicating that the hook overwind has not occurredare displayed in the display screen. As the operator takes up the hookby following the instructions provided in the message and the hookenters an overwind state with the weight lifted up as a result, thedisplay is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 72.

The following messages are displayed in the display screen shown in FIG.72.

-   -   The hook overwind preventing device has been activated.    -   Check the following operations by operating the corresponding        operating levers.        (Auto Stop)    -   Hook take-up    -   Tower take-down    -   Jib take-down        (Alarm)    -   Bell

In addition, an illustration of the tower crane indicating that the hooktake-up drive, the tower boom take-down drive and the jib take-downdrive stop and a sign indicating that a hook overwind has occurred aredisplayed in the screen. The operator follows the instructions in themessages to verify that the individual drive operations have stopped andthe alarm bell is output. As the operator operates the ◯ key 45 afterverifying that the hook overwind preventing device operates correctly,the display moves forward to the display screen providing the nextinspection guidance, as shown in FIG. 73. It is to be noted that thedisplay returns to the display screen in FIG. 66 in response to anoperation of the “return” key (X key) 46 in the display screen shown inFIG. 71 or 72.

In FIG. 73, the following messages are displayed in the display screento provide operating procedure instructions for inspecting the jibultimate-overwind preventing device.

-   -   Set the tower angle to 80°, and as the jib enters an overwind        state, operate the release switch and hoist the jib until the        jib angle becomes approx. 67′ (the ultimate-overwind angle).    -   Perform jib hoisting operation at the slowest speed.

In addition, an illustration of the tower crane, which indicates thetower angle (A1) and the jib angle (A2) and also includes an instructionto hoist the jib and a sign indicating that a jib ultimate-overwind hasnot occurred are displayed in the display screen. It is to be noted thata state of jib overwind occurs when the jib angle becomes equal to apredetermined value, e.g., 65°, smaller than the ultimate-overwindangle. As the operator hoists the jib to achieve the ultimate-overwindangle by following the instructions in the messages and the jib enters astate of ultimate-overwind, the display is switched to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 74.

The following messages are displayed in the display screen shown in FIG.74.

-   -   The jib ultimate-overwind preventing device has been activated.    -   Check the following operations by operating the corresponding        operating levers.        (Auto Stop)    -   Hook take-up    -   Tower take-down    -   Jib take-up        (Alarm)    -   Bell    -   Buzzer

In addition, an illustration of the tower crane indicating that the hooktake-up drive, the tower boom take-down drive and the jib take-up drivestop and a sign indicating that a jib ultimate-overwind has occurred aredisplayed in the screen. The operator follows the instructions in themessages to verify that the individual drive operations have stopped andthe alarm bell and the alarm buzzer sound.

If the jib ultimate-overwind preventing device is not activated evenwhen the jib is hoisted until the relative angle of the tower angle andthe jib angle achieves a predetermined value of, for instance, 12° orsmaller, i.e., until the jib angle becomes 68° or larger with towerangle being 80°, by following the instructions in the display screen inFIG. 73, the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 75.In the display screen shown in FIG. 75, a warning message “The jibultimate-overwind preventing device is not activated” is displayed as apop-up, together with a message “Possible causes include an abnormalityat the limit switch and an abnormality in the jib backstop striker anglesetting”. If the operator selects the X key 46 in FIG. 75, the displayis switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 76.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 76, a message “Perform a towerlowering operation after lowering the jib to the safe range (until thejib angle is 60° or less), and then correct the abnormality” isdisplayed together with an illustration of the tower crane. If theoperator selects the X key 46 in this display screen, the displayreturns to the display screen shown in FIG. 66.

As the operator operates the ◯ key 45 after verifying that the jibultimate-overwind preventing device operations correctly in the displayscreen shown in FIG. 74, the operation proceeds to bring up displayscreens of the inspection guidance for the remaining safety devices. Inthe inspection operating procedure guidance of the remaining safetydevices, i.e., the tower 90°-overwind preventing device and the towerultimate-overwind preventing device, the inspection operating proceduresare displayed by using illustrations and text messages as in theguidance of the inspection operating procedures for the hook overwindpreventing device and the jib ultimate-overwind preventing device shownin FIGS. 71 to 74. A detailed explanation of the guidance screens forthe safety devices is omitted.

The pre-work inspection operating procedure guidance explained above maybe provided on display when performing the pre-raise inspection as well.It is to be noted that in such a case, the assistant operator on theground should press the individual limit switch to assume an overwindstate to enable the operator to inspect the operations of the safetydevices by following the instructions in the display screens since thetower boom 2 and the jib 3 cannot be actually hoisted during thepre-raise inspection.

While an explanation is given above in reference to the embodiment on anexample in which an instruction to set the engine rotational speed to alow level is displayed and a warning is displayed if the enginerotational speed becomes high when performing a setup operation, theoperation assist apparatus according to the present invention is notlimited to this example and allows for numerous variations. Forinstance, if the engine rotational speed becomes high during a setupoperation, the engine rotation rate may be automatically lowered bycontrolling a pulse motor or the like (not shown).

In addition, the angle of inclination of the crane main body 1 relativeto the horizontal may be indicated in the sub-screen at the display unit30. Furthermore, the display mode that may be adopted in conjunctionwith display screens is not limited to that assumed in the embodimentdescribed above and any of various other display modes may be adopted.Namely, the design of the display screens and the like brought up ondisplay at the operation assist apparatus according to the presentinvention, which assists operator operations by displaying the setupoperating procedures together with the quantities indicating the stateof the tower crane during the setup operations, the tower crane postureand the environment information, can be altered as long as the operatoris provided with the information he needs to perform the operations. Itis desirable that the operating procedures, the machine posture and thestate quantities be indicated through a combination of illustrations,text messages and audio messages so that the operator can easily followthe instructions. The input device 40 may be integrated with the displayunit 30, and may be a touch panel device.

While an explanation is given above in reference to the embodiment on anexample in which the setup operating procedures for raising and loweringthe tower crane are displayed at the display unit 30, the operationassist apparatus according to the present invention is not limited tothis example and it may be used to display setup operating proceduresfor a construction machine other than a tower crane, such as a standardcrane. Namely, the present invention may be adopted in all types ofoperation assist apparatuses that assist operator operations bydisplaying operating procedures together with the machine posture andthe machine state quantities at a multi-display screen.

As described above, the operation assist apparatus achieved in theembodiment of the present invention displays the setup operatingprocedures and information such as the crane state quantities by usingtext, illustrations, dynamic images and the like at the display unit 30installed in the operator's cab 1 a of the construction machine. Theoperator can thus check the crane state quantities, the crane postureand the environment surrounding the crane during a setup operation toprevent irregular winding of a winch that may be caused by a slackcable, damage to the swing lever 7 caused by overwinding of a cable andthe like. Since any abnormal cable tension, incorrect coupling orreleasing of the coupling device 13 and the like are indicated ondisplay or as an audio output, the operator is duly warned in a timelymanner to correct the situation promptly.

The tower crane may assume a specific setting to skip the display of anoperation procedure at the display unit 30, or the operator may opt toskip the display of a specific operating procedure at the display unit30. For instance, the display may start with the tower raising operationguidance by skipping the display of the pre-raise inspection operatingprocedure guidance or the display of the tower hoist pad guidance may beskipped. Thus, a practical and user-friendly operation assist apparatus,which allows only the operating procedure guidance actually needed bythe operator to be displayed at the display unit 30, is achieved. Inaddition, installation space can be saved by using the display unit 30at which the moment limiter screens can be displayed as well as theoperating procedures. Furthermore, by displaying a list of the setupoperating procedures in a tree format at the display screen, theoperator can ascertain with ease the operations currently in progress.

By displaying information as needed in correspondence to the currenttower crane posture or the current operation items, as shown in FIG. 59,e.g., by displaying the wind velocity when the tower angle reaches 70°,the limited display area at the display unit 30 can be utilizedefficiently and, at the same time, the information needed by theoperator can be provided in a timely manner.

Since the screen number assigned to the display screen on display whenthe power goes off is recorded into the nonvolatile memory 21, theoperation can be resumed by turning the power back on with the samescreen that was on display when the operation was interrupted (a resumefunction).

The following is the advantages achieved by the operation assistapparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.

-   (1) The operation assist apparatus according to the present    invention, which displays operating procedures at the display unit    30 installed in the operator's cab 1 a by using text, i.e.,    characters, and messages and illustrations, allows the operator to    perform operations by checking the operating procedures displayed at    the display device and thus, the operator can perform operations    easily with a high degree of accuracy.-   (2) Since the operating procedures for the setup operations are    displayed at the display unit 30, the setup operations which are    performed by the operator in reference to the instruction manual in    the related art, can be performed with greater ease and a higher    degree of reliability.-   (3) Since information required to drive and operate the construction    machine, e.g., the driving environment information and information    generated as the operation progresses, are displayed together with    the corresponding operating procedure at the display unit 30, the    operator can easily and accurately perform the operation by checking    the information on the construction machine.-   (4) The display screen at the display unit 30 is updated as    necessary based upon the operating environment surrounding the    construction machine and the information generated as the operation    progresses and thus, the operator can perform the operation in a    highly reliable manner based upon the real-time information.-   (5) Since the operating procedure guidance includes instructions on    specifically how to perform the individual operations, e.g., how to    start raising operation, the verification items to be checked such    as the orientation of the main body and the operating states of the    brakes, the inspection items to be checked such as the operating    states of the safety devices and operational warnings, e.g., a    warning that the coupling device is in a released state, which are    displayed at the display unit 30, the operator can perform the    operations with ease and a high degree of reliability.-   (6) The quantities indicating the state of the tower crane such as    the tensions of the cables used to hoist the front attachment which    includes the tower boom 2 and the jib 3, the posture of the    construction machine represented by the tower angle, the jib angle    and the like and the environment information including the wind    velocity and the wind direction are detected and the information    resulting from the detection is displayed at the display unit 30.    Thus, the operator is enabled to check various types of information    concerning the construction machine with ease.-   (7) Since the subsequent operating procedure is brought up on    display based upon the current posture of the construction machine,    e.g., the instructions with regard to the tower hoist pad are    displayed when the tower angle reaches 70°, the operator is enabled    to perform the operations by checking the correct operating    procedure with ease.-   (8) Since the operating procedure corresponding to an operation    performed at the input device, i.e., the selection device 40, is    displayed at the display unit 30, the operator can select and    display any operating procedure that he wishes.-   (9) If the construction machine is within the work range, i.e., if    the current working radius relative to the radius limit is within a    predetermined allowable range, moment limiter information is    displayed at the display unit 30. This allows the crane operation    and the like to be performed smoothly and, at the same time, the    limited space inside the operator's cab 1 a can be utilized with a    high degree of efficiency.-   (10) By displaying a list of the operating procedures in a tree    format in the sub-screen, i.e., in a portion of the display screen,    at all times, the operator can easily ascertain the exact state of    operational progress. Alternatively, a list of the operating    procedures assuming a tree format may be brought up on display in    the main screen as necessary, to enable the operator to easily    ascertain the state of the operational progress.-   (11) The operating procedure displayed at the display unit 30    immediately before the power is turned off is stored into the    nonvolatile memory 21, and the operating procedure stored in the    nonvolatile memory 21 is brought up on display at the display unit    30 when the power is turned on again. As a result, even when the    power is cut off temporarily due to a disconnection or the like, the    operation can be resumed at the point where the operation was    interrupted.-   (12) By providing the operating procedure guidance via an audio    output as well as text messages, illustrations and dynamic images,    the operation assist apparatus allows the operator to check the    operating procedures with an even higher degree of reliability.

Second Embodiment

The following is an explanation of the operation assist apparatusachieved in the second embodiment of the present invention. Thestructure of the operation assist apparatus adopted in the secondembodiment is similar to that of the operation assist apparatus in thefirst embodiment having been explained earlier in reference to FIG. 3.While the explanation of the first embodiment focuses on the display ofthe tower crane setup operating procedures at the display unit 30, anexplanation is given in reference to the second embodiment on a shiftfrom the display of a moment limiter screen to the display of a setupoperating procedure.

When the tower crane is currently assuming a work posture, i.e., whenthe tower crane is ready for work, a moment limiter screen such as thatshown in FIG. 34 is displayed at the display unit 30. In addition, afteran engine key switch (not shown) at the crane main body 1 is turned onand a setting screen in which the tower crane operating state is set isdisplayed, a moment limiter screen is displayed at the display unit 30.

In the second embodiment, the posture of the tower crane is judged whilea moment limiter screen is on display at the display unit 30 and ascreen which provides the operating procedure corresponding to thecurrent tower crane posture is then brought up on display at the displayunit 30.

The controller 20 makes a decision as to whether or not the currenttower crane posture is within the work range based upon the tower angleand the jib angle detected at the angle sensors 51 and 52 and displays amoment limiter screen at the display unit if the tower crane posture iswithin the work range. If, on the other hand, the tower crane posture isnot within the work range, or if the tower crane posture has shiftedfrom the work range to the non-work range, the controller 20 switchesthe display at the display unit 30 from the moment limiter screen to theappropriate operating procedure in correspondence to the tower craneposture. The tower crane posture in the non-work range fits into one ofthe following three classifications.

(1) Pre-Assembly or Front-on-the-Ground State

The tower crane assumes a first type of posture in the non-work rangewhen the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 are not attached to the crane mainbody 1 yet (hereafter referred to as a pre-assembly posture), as shownin FIG. 77, or when the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 attached to the cranemain body 1 are still on the ground (hereafter referred to as thefront-on-the-ground state), as shown in FIG. 78. A decision as towhether the tower crane is in the pre-assembly state or in thefront-on-the-ground state is made by detecting whether or not a shortingplug 101 is connected to a main body connector 100 shown in FIGS. 77 and78. If the shorting plug 101 is connected to the main body connector 100as shown in FIG. 77, it is judged that the front attachment has not beenattached to the main body yet and therefore the tower crane is in thepre-assembly state. If, on the other hand, the shorting plug 101 is notconnected to the main body connector 100, it is judged that the frontattachment has been attached to the main body. It is to be noted thatthis decision-making is executed at the controller 20.

(2) Resting State with Front Attached

The tower crane assumes a second type of posture in the non-work rangewhen the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 are attached to the crane main body1, the tower crane is not currently in a work posture and it is notcurrently in the front-on-the-ground state, as shown in FIG. 78, either.For instance, the tower crane assumes this posture when the craneoperation is interrupted due to high wind or the like by taking down thetower boom 2 to achieve a boom angle of approximately 60° with the jib 3and the tower boom 2 in a coupled state, as shown in FIG. 79 (hereafterto be referred to as a rest in a or idle state with front attached).

(3) Transition from the Work Range to the Non-Work Range

The tower crane assumes a third type of posture in the non-work rangewhen it undergoes a transition from a work posture to an posture in thenon-work range.

The following is a detailed explanation of the operations of theoperation assist apparatus in the situations described above in (1) to(3), given in reference to the drawings.

(1) Pre-Assembly or Front-on-the-Ground State

The operating procedures displayed at the display unit 30 when the towercrane posture is in the pre-assembly state or the front-on-the-groundstate are explained in reference to FIG. 80. FIG. 80 presents aflowchart of the flow of operating procedure screens displayed at thedisplay unit 30 in the pre-assembly state or the front-on-the-groundstate. The flow in the flowchart presented in FIG. 80 starts as theengine key switch is turned on.

If the tower crane is in the pre-assembly state with the shorting plug101 connected to the main body connector 100 when the engine key switchis turned on, the display screen shown in FIG. 81 is brought up ondisplay at the display unit 30. A message which may read as follows isdisplayed over the entire display screen shown in FIG. 81.

-   -   All settings are cleared since the shorting plug is connected.        If you wish to set the tower crane in a work state, first turn        off the power and disconnect the shorting plug.

If the operator operates the OK key (◯ key) 45, the settings at theoverwind preventing devices and the like are all cleared. After thefront attachment is attached and the shorting plug 101 is disconnected,the display screen shown in FIG. 82 is brought up on display at thedisplay unit 30.

On the other hand, if the shorting plug 101 has been disconnected fromthe main body connector 100 when the key switch is turned on, thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 82 is brought upon display. As shown inFIG. 82, a table indicating the model name of the construction machineand the specifications of the construction machine is displayed over theentire display screen. The specifications of the construction machinemay include, for instance, the following.

-   -   Type of construction machine main body (crawler crane in this        example)    -   Boom length    -   Jib length    -   Offset angle    -   Winch drum types (the tower boom hoist winch 4, the jib hoist        winch 10, the hook hoist winch 15, etc. in this example)

The operator checks the operating condition settings indicated at thedisplay unit 30, and operates the setting change key (◯ key) 45 to alteran operating condition setting. In response to the operation of thesetting change key 45, the display screen shown in FIG. 83 is brought upon display.

FIG. 83 shows a screen in which the condition settings can be modifiedis displayed over the entire display screen. The following is an exampleof settings that may be displayed in the specification setting screen.

-   -   Boom type    -   Boom length    -   Presence/absence of boom mast    -   Jib length

In order to modify a specification setting, the operator selects aspecific setting by operating the UP or DOWN key 41 or 43 and changesthe selected setting by operating the LEFT or RIGHT key 42 or 44. Oncethe specified setting has been altered, the operator selects the “set”key (◯ key) 45. In response to the operation of the “set” key 45, thescreen for verifying the operating condition setting shown in FIG. 82 isbrought up on display again. In addition, if the operator operates the“discontinue” key (X key) 46 in the display screen shown in FIG. 83,too, the display returns to the display screen shown in FIG. 82.

As the operator selects the “next” key (X key) 46 in the display screenshown in FIG. 82, the display is switched to the moment limiter screenshown in FIG. 34. At this time, the controller 20 detects the posture ofthe tower crane based upon the signals provided by the boom angle sensor51 and the jib angle sensor 52. If the tower angle is substantially 0°and the tower boom 2 and the jib 3 are both laid on the ground, as shownin FIG. 78, the controller 20 switches the display from the momentlimiter screen to the display screen shown in FIG. 84.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 84, a message which may read asfollows is displayed as a pop-up on the moment limiter screen.

-   -   For disassembly, turn off the power and connect the shorting        plug. For a raising operation, press the guidance key.

If the operator wishes to raise the tower boom 2, he operates theguidance key (□ key) 48 by following the instructions in the message. Asthe guidance key 48 is operated, the display is switched to the raisingguidance screen shown in FIG. 5. As the raising guidance provided, asshown in FIG. 5 and subsequent figures, has been explained in detail inreference to the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted here.After the pre-raise inspection, the tower raising operation and the jibraising operation are performed by following the instructions providedin the raising guidance and the tower crane posture is set within thework range, a screen indicating the end of the raising guidance, such asthat shown in FIG. 31, is brought up on display. As the operatoroperates the “next” key (O key) 45 in the screen shown in FIG. 31, thedisplay is switched to the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 34.

In response to an operation of the menu key (◯ key) 45 in the screenshown in FIG. 34, the display is switched to the display screen shown inFIG. 85. FIG. 85 shows a pop-up menu which may include, for instance,the following menu items, displayed over the moment limiter screen.

-   -   Operating conditions    -   Inspection    -   Work range limits    -   Load table    -   0-point adjustment    -   Clock    -   Operation manual

The operator selects a menu item by operating the UP or DOWN key 41 or43 and then operates the “set” key (◯ key) 45. For instance, if heselects “inspection” and operates the “set” key 45, the display isswitched to the overwind preventing device operation check screen shownin FIG. 32. The operator then performs a pre-work inspection on theoverwind preventing devices by following the instructions provided inthe display screen in FIG. 32. If there is an error in an overwindpreventing device, a selection screen which allows the operator toindicate whether or not a failure diagnosis is to be executed, such asthat shown in FIG. 60, is displayed. Since how to verify the operationof the overwind preventing device operation has been explained in detailin reference to the first embodiment, a repeated explanation is notprovided.

As the operator operates the “return” key (X key) 46 in the screen shownin FIG. 32, the display is switched to the moment limiter screen shownin FIG. 34. The operator then carries out a crane operation whileensuring that the tower crane posture does not enter the non-work rangeand that an overload does not occur by checking the tower crane statequantities displayed in the moment limiter screen. It is to be notedthat at the bottom of each of the display screens described above, ahelp call key (? key, not shown) is displayed at all times to allow theoperator to bring up a display of operation manual or handlinginstruction corresponding to the screen currently on display byoperating the help call key. For instance, if the operator operates thehelp call key while the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 32 is ondisplay, an operation manual screen corresponding to the moment limiterscreen, such as that shown in FIG. 86, is brought upon display.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 86, messages such as those below aredisplayed.

-   -   This is a moment limiter screen indicating the state of the        machine. Keep the screen on display while performing a crane        work.    -   Press “←” in the moment limiter screen to switch to the main        lifting operation display . . . . (to be continued)

If the operator selects the page switch key (→ key) 42 in the screen,the display is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 87.

In FIG. 87, messages such as those below are displayed in the displayscreen.

-   -   Press “→” to switch to the auxiliary lifting operation display        (“←” and “→” are displayed only when operating a construction        machine with an auxiliary jib or a jib).    -   Press “◯” to bring up the menu for switching the display to a        moment limiter sub-function screen . . . (to be continued)

An explanation of subsequent operation manual screens to follow thatshown in FIG. 87 is omitted.

On the upper right side of the operation manual screens shown in FIGS.86 and 87, the corresponding page numbers are displayed, and theoperator can switch the display of the operation manual screen byoperating the page switch key (left or right arrow key) 42 or 44. Inaddition, if the operator operates the “return” key (X key) 46, thedisplay returns to the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 34.

(2) Resting State with Front Attached

Next, the operating procedures brought up on display at the display unit30 when the tower crane posture is in the resting state with frontattached are explained in reference to FIG. 88. FIG. 88 presents aflowchart of the flow of the operating procedure screens displayed atthe display unit 30 when the tower crane is in the resting state withfront attached. The flow shown in the flowchart in FIG. 88 starts as theengine key switch is turned on.

The display is switched to bring up the operating condition settingverification screen (FIG. 82), the specification setting change screen(FIG. 83), the moment limiter screen (FIG. 34) and the menu screen (FIG.85) as in the pre-assembly state or in the front-on-the-ground statedescribed above in (1). The controller 20 detects the tower craneposture based upon the signals provided by the boom angle sensor 51 andthe jib angle sensor 52 while the moment limiter screen is on display.

If the tower crane is currently in the resting state shown in FIG. 79,the display is switched from the moment limiter screen to the displayscreen shown in FIG. 89. FIG. 89 shows the following messages displayedas a pop-up over the moment limiter screen.

-   -   Raise the boom (into a work posture)?    -   lower the boom (onto the ground for disassembly)?

The operator selects to either raise or lower the boom by operating theitem shift key (UP or DOWN arrow key) 41 or 43 and then operates the“set” key (◯ key) 45. If the operator selects to “raise” in the screenshown in FIG. 89, the display is switched to the raising guidance menuscreen shown in FIG. 5. As the raising operation is completed byfollowing the instructions provided in the raising guidance, the displayis switched to a display screen indicating the end of the raisingoperation, such as that shown in FIG. 31.

If, on the other hand, the operator selects “lower” in FIG. 89, thedisplay is switched to the lowering guidance screen shown in FIG. 37.Since the lowering guidance provided in the display screens in FIG. 37and subsequent figures has been explained in detail in reference to thefirst embodiment, its explanation is omitted. As the operator selectsthe guidance key (□ key) 48 while the display screen shown in FIG. 56,which indicates the end of the lowering guidance, is on display, theraising guidance menu screen in FIG. 5 is brought up.

(3) Transition from the Allowable Work Range to the Outside of theAllowable Work Range

Next, the operating procedures displayed at the display unit 30 when thetower crane posture undergoes a transition from the work range to thenon-work range are explained in reference to FIG. 90. FIG. 90 presents aflowchart of the flow of the operating procedure screens displayed atthe display unit 30 when the tower crane posture shifts from the workrange to the non-work range. The flow in the flowchart shown in FIG. 90starts as the engine key switch is turned on.

The display is switched to bring up the operating condition settingverification screen (FIG. 82), the specifications setting change screen(FIG. 83), the moment limiter screen (FIG. 34) and the menu screen (FIG.85) as in the pre-assembly state or in the front-on-the-ground statedescribed in (1) and in the resting state with front attached describedin (2).

While the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 34 is on display, thecontroller 20 detects the posture of the tower crane based upon thesignals provided by the boom angle sensor 51 and the jib angle sensor52. As the tower crane posture shifts from the work range to thenon-work range, the display is switched from the moment limiter screento a screen displaying the operating procedure corresponding to thedetected tower crane posture.

If the tower crane posture enters the non-work range while the towerangle detected by the boom angle sensor 51 is 90°, i.e., if the jib 3 istaken down and the tower crane posture enters the non-work range as aresult, the display screen shown in FIG. 91 is brought up on display.FIG. 91 shows the following messages displayed as a pop-up over themoment limiter screen.

-   -   The tower crane is not within the work range. Raise the jib.    -   Press the assemble/disassemble key to lower the jib.

If the operator selects the assemble/disassemble key (◯ key) 45 in thisscreen, the display is switched to the lowering guidance screen for thejib lowering operation shown in FIG. 44. If, on the other hand, the jib3 is taken up and the tower crane posture reenters the work range, themoment limiter screen in FIG. 34 is brought up on display again.

If the tower crane posture enters the non-work range while the towerangle detected by the boom angle sensor 51 is other than 90°, i.e., ifthe tower boom 2 is taken down and the tower crane aptitude enters thenon-work range as a result, the display screen shown in FIG. 92 isbrought up on display. FIG. 92 shows the following message displayed asa pop-up over the moment limiter screen.

-   -   The tower crane is not within the work range. Raise the boom.

If the tower boom 2 is taken up and the tower crane posture reenters thework range while this screen is on display, the moment limiter screen inFIG. 34 is brought back on display. It is to be noted that since thework range varies in correspondence to the specifications of individualtower cranes, the controller 20 sets in advance the work range of thespecific tower crane in use in correspondence to the tower cranespecifications displayed in the screen shown in FIG. 82, i.e., incorrespondence to the tower boom length, the jib length and the like. Itis also to be noted that in the resting state with front attacheddescribed in (2) and when the tower crane posture undergoes transitionfrom the work range to the non-work range as described in (3), too, theoperator can select the “?” key to bring up the operation manual screencorresponding to the screen currently on display.

As explained above, if the tower crane posture is in the non-work rangewhile the moment limiter screen is on display at the display unit 30,the operating procedure screen which corresponds to the specific towercrane posture is displayed. Namely;

-   (1) If the front attachment is laid on the ground, the operating    procedure shown in FIG. 84 is brought up on display.-   (2) If the tower crane is currently in the resting state with front    attached, the operating procedure shown in FIG. 89 is brought up on    display.-   (3) When the tower crane posture has shifted from the work range to    the non-work range, the operating procedure shown in FIG. 91 is    brought up on display if the tower angle is 90° and the operating    procedure in FIG. 92 is brought up on display if the tower angle is    not 90°.

While an explanation is given above in reference to the secondembodiment on the operating procedures displayed at the display unit 30when operating a tower crane having the tower boom 2 and the jib 3mounted thereupon as a front attachment, operating procedures similar tothose described above may also be displayed when operating a cranehaving only a jib 3, i.e., a regular crane at which only a boom ismounted. However, a message such as that below should be displayed as apop-up over the moment limiter screen shown in FIG. 34 when the postureof the regular crane shifts from the work range to the non-work range asdescribed in (3), i.e., when the boom is taken down and the crane entersthe non-work range.

-   -   The crane is not within the work range. Raise the boom or press        the assemble/disassemble key to lower the boom.

It is to be noted that the display screen shown in the figures inreference to which the embodiment has been explained simply represent anexample, and the layout and the messages may be changed as long as thenecessary information is provided in the screens.

The following is the advantages of the operation assist apparatusachieved in the second embodiment of the present invention.

-   (1) The operation assist apparatus achieved in the second embodiment    of the present invention, which displays the moment limiter    information screen at the display unit 30 installed in the    operator's cab 1 a, also displays the operating procedures at the    display unit 30 by using text and illustrations. Thus, the operator    is enabled to perform operations easily and with a high degree of    accuracy by checking the moment limiter information and the    operating procedures displayed at the display unit 30. In addition,    since the display unit 30 can be utilized both to display the moment    limiter information and to display the operating procedures, the    limited space inside the operator's cab 1 a can be utilized    efficiently.-   (2) The display at the display unit 30 is switched from the moment    limiter information to the operating procedure guidance or vice    versa depending upon the posture of the construction machine. Since    the information that matches the current state of the construction    machine is displayed at the display unit 30 in this manner, the    operator can perform the operation that needs to be performed under    the current circumstances easily and reliably.-   (3) If the construction machine posture is not within the allowable    work range or if the construction machine posture has undergone a    transition from the allowable work range to the outside of the    allowable work range, the display at the display unit 30 is switched    from the moment limiter information to the operating procedure    corresponding to the specific construction machine posture. For    instance, if the construction machine is a tower crane and the front    attachment is currently laid on the ground, the operating procedure    for the front attachment disassembly or the front attachment raising    operation is brought up on display. If the construction machine is    currently assuming the resting state with front attached, the    operating procedure for taking up or lowering the tower boom 2 is    brought up on display. When the construction machine posture has    shifted from the work range to the non-work range, on the other    hand, the operating procedure for taking up or lowering the jib 3 is    brought up on display if the tower angle is 90° and the operating    procedure for taking up the tower boom 2 is brought up on display if    the tower angle is not 90°. As a result, the operator is enabled to    perform the operation that needs to be performed in correspondence    to the current tower crane posture with ease and reliability.-   (4) The operating procedure guidance includes instructions on    specifically how to perform operations to take-up or take-down the    tower boom 2, and the like, the verification items to be checked    such as the orientation of the main body and the operating states of    the brakes, the inspection items to be checked, such as the    operating states of the safety devices and operational warnings.    Since the operating procedure or the moment limiter information that    is in correspondence to the current construction machine posture or    the operating procedure or the moment limiter information conforming    to an operation performed at the input device 40 is displayed at the    display unit 30, the information that is needed under the current    circumstances is displayed and the information desired by the    operator can be selected and displayed.-   (5) If an error is detected with regard to an inspection item, the    failure diagnosis screen is brought up on display at the display    unit 30 to enable a failure diagnosis to be executed promptly on the    corresponding safety device or the like.-   (6) As the operator operates the handling instruction call key, more    detailed operation manual corresponding to the display screen    currently on display at the display unit 30 are brought up on    display. As a result, the operator can obtain information he needs    whenever necessary and the operator's work is, therefore, greatly    facilitated.-   (7) If the front attachment is not mounted at the construction    machine, the operating procedure corresponding to the unattached    state is displayed at the display unit 30 to ensure easy and highly    reliable operation.-   (8) Since the operating procedures for the setup operations are    displayed at the display unit 30, the setup operating procedures    such as the front attachment raising operation and the front    attachment lowering operation, which are performed by the operator    in reference to the instruction manual in the related art, can be    performed with greater ease and a higher degree of reliability.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

While an explanation has been given on an example in which the presentinvention is adopted in an operation assist apparatus that displaystower crane operating procedures, the present invention is adoptedequally effectively in conjunction with construction machines other thantower cranes.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. An operation assisting apparatus comprising: adisplay device installed in an operator's cab of a construction machine,at which at least operating procedures for the construction machine aredisplayed with text and illustrations; an image processing device thatgenerates images; and a control device that engages the image processingdevice to generate an image of an operating procedure corresponding toan operation of the construction machine and engages the display deviceto display the image generated by the image processing device.
 25. Anoperation assisting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein: thecontrol device engages the display device to display an operatingprocedure of a setup operation for raising or lowering a frontattachment of the construction machine.
 26. An operation assistingapparatus according to claim 24, further comprising: an informationdetection device that detects information required to drive and operatethe construction machine, wherein: the control device engages the imageprocessing device to generate an image based upon the informationdetected by the information detecting device together with the image ofthe operating procedure and engages the display device to display theimage of the operating procedure and the image of the informationrelated to the construction machine which are generated by the imageprocessing device.
 27. An operation assisting apparatus according toclaim 26, wherein: the control device updates the images displayed atthe display device based upon the information detected by theinformation detection device.
 28. An operation assisting apparatusaccording to claim 26, wherein: the operating procedure of theconstruction machine displayed at the display device includes aninstruction on how to operate the construction machine, verificationitems to be checked, inspection items to be checked and an operationalwarning, which match the information detected by the informationdetection device.
 29. An operation assisting apparatus according toclaim 26, wherein: the information detection device detects a statequantity indicating a state of the construction machine, a posture ofthe construction machine and environment information indicating anenvironment surrounding the construction machine.
 30. An operationassisting apparatus according to claim 29, wherein: the control deviceengages the display device to display a subsequent operating procedurebased upon the posture of the construction machine detected by theinformation detection device.
 31. An operation assisting apparatusaccording to claim 24, further comprising: a selection device thatselects an operating procedure to be displayed at the display device,wherein: the control device engages the display device to display theoperating procedure selected by the selection device.
 32. An operationassisting apparatus according to claim 29, wherein: when the posture ofthe construction machine detected by the information detection device iswithin an allowable work range, the control device engages the displaydevice to display information related to a load applied to theconstruction machine (hereafter referred to as moment limiterinformation), instead of the operating procedure, at the display screen.33. An operation assisting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein: thecontrol device engages the display device to display a list of theoperating procedures in a tree format.
 34. An operation assistingapparatus according to claim 33, wherein: the control device sustains adisplay of the list of the operating procedures at all times at aportion of the display device.
 35. An operation assisting apparatusaccording to claim 33, wherein: the control device displays the list ofthe operating procedures at the display device as required.
 36. Anoperation assisting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein: thecontrol device includes a storage unit that stores in memory theoperating procedure displayed at the display device immediately beforepower to the construction machine is turned off and engages the displaydevice to display the operating procedure stored in memory at thestorage unit when the power to the construction machine is turned onagain.
 37. An operation assisting apparatus according to claim 24,further comprising: an audio output device that outputs the operatingprocedures of the construction machine as audio instructions.
 38. Anoperation assisting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein: thedisplay device further displays information related to a load applied tothe construction machine (hereafter referred to as moment limiterinformation); and the control device engages the image processing deviceto generate an image providing the moment limiter information and animage of the operating procedure corresponding to the operation of theconstruction machine and engages the display device to display theimages generated by the image processing device.
 39. An operationassisting apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising: aninformation detection device that detects a state quantity indicating astate of the construction machine, a posture of the construction machineand environment information indicating an environment surrounding theconstruction machine, wherein: the control device engages the imageprocessing device to generate an image based upon the informationdetected by the information detection device and engages the displaydevice to display one of the moment limiter information and theoperating procedure in correspondence to the posture of the constructionmachine.
 40. An operation assisting apparatus according to claim 39,wherein: the control device switches the image displayed at the displaydevice from the moment limiter information to the operating procedurewhen the posture of the construction machine detected by the informationdetection device is not within an allowable work range or when theposture of the construction machine detected by the informationdetection device which has been in the allowable work range shifts intooutside of the allowable work range.
 41. An operation assistingapparatus according to claim 39, wherein: the operating procedure of theconstruction machine displayed at the display device includes aninstruction on how to operate the construction machine, verificationitems to be checked, inspection items to be checked and an operationalwarning, which match the information detected by the informationdetection device, the operation assisting apparatus further comprises aselection device that selects an image to be displayed at the displaydevice; and the control device engages the display device to display oneof the operating procedure and the moment limiter informationcorresponding to the posture of the construction machine, or one of theoperating procedure and the moment limiter information selected by theselection device.
 42. An operation assisting apparatus according toclaim 41, wherein: the control device engages the display device todisplay a failure diagnosis screen when an error has been detected withregard to an inspection item.
 43. An operation assisting apparatusaccording to claim 41, wherein: the operating procedure of theconstruction machine displayed by the control device further includes ahandling instruction; and if the handling instruction is selected by theselection device, the control device engages the display device todisplay the handling instruction corresponding to the screen currentlyon display.
 44. An operation assisting apparatus according to claim 39,wherein: the information detection device detects whether or not a frontattachment is mounted at the construction machine; and the controldevice engages the display device to display the operating procedure ifthe information detection device detects that a front attachment is notmounted.
 45. An operation assisting apparatus according to claim 38,wherein: the control device engages the display device to display anoperating procedure of a setup operation for raising or lowering a frontattachment of the construction machine.
 46. A construction machinehaving an operation assisting apparatus according to claim 24.